Attorney General Koster obtains indictment against St. Louis man for home-repair violations
Jefferson City, MO – August 31, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Chris Koster today said his office has obtained a criminal indictment from the St. Louis County grand jury against Jason Leavy for violating Missouri’s laws related to his home-repair business. Leavy, who also goes by the name Jason Aragon and Michael Aragon, is being charged as a prior and persistent offender for past actions related to home repair businesses. Recently he has operated as TriStar Roofing, Accurate Construction and Quality Roofing. He is currently being held in the St. Louis County jail with a bail requirement of $25,000.
The indictment alleges that Leavy took money from homeowners for home repair or improvement, has failed to do any work despite repeated requests, and failed or refused to refund the money he received in payment.
In addition to the four criminal counts of unlawful merchandising practices in St. Louis County, Leavy also has been charged by felony complaint in St. Charles County for three additional counts in connection with homeowners in that county. Bail on those charges has been set for $50,000, and Leavy is to have no contact with the victims.
“Missourians should be able to trust that when they contract for home-repair work, the work will be completed as promised,” Koster said. “We will continue to pursue charges against those in the home-repair business who do not complete the jobs they are paid to do.”
Unlawful merchandising practices is a Class D felony, and as a prior and persistent offender, Leavy faces two to seven years in prison, or up to one year in the county jail and/or a fine double the amount of gain, not to exceed $20,000 for each count. As in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Leavy served 18 months for prior convictions. Koster alleges that within a matter of weeks following his release, he was again taking money from consumers and not doing the promised work. The pending charges against the defendant are merely accusations.
