Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that her office secured the conviction of a contractor accused of defrauding many consumers, including a disabled military veteran, through misleading business practices and theft.
Nicholas Fontinelli, the owner of Squared Up Structures, pled guilty to charges of fraudulent business practices, financial exploitation of an older person, and theft by deceit. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team prosecuted the case.
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“Preying on a disabled veteran is as cowardly as it is criminal. These actions are appalling, and we won’t stand for it,” Hanaway said in a statement. “My office will not tolerate fraud or those who exploit the vulnerable. Our Consumer Protection team will keep fighting for Missouri consumers and working tirelessly to deliver restitution to victims.”
Fontinelli, according to the Attorney General’s Office, requested hefty advance payments from a number of Missouri residents in exchange for residential building services. After receiving the funds, he allegedly did little to none of the promised work and then stopped communicating with the consumers.
One case was an injured veteran from Pettis County who had previously served as a bomber pilot. Fontinelli received about $14,000 from the soldier and his family as a down payment for a building project. Authorities stated that no work was done and no materials were acquired before Fontinelli cut off contact and kept the money.
After Fontinelli pleaded guilty, a judge in Pettis County sentenced him to four years in jail. The court also sentenced him to pay $68,373.55 in reparations to victims from Lafayette, Pettis, and Phelps counties.
