Contractors settle with N.D. AG Stenehjem

BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline) - North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued cease and desist orders on Friday against three unlicensed contractors for alleged violations of consumer fraud laws.

Under the terms of the orders, Todd A. Copenhaver, doing business as KRC Steel Erectors and KRC Steel Work LLC, Denis J. Lee, doing business as Ashley Home Exteriors, and Alex Sweeney and Lou Cueto, doing business as Aqua Dry Restoration, are all banned from doing business in the state of North Dakota.

"We will continue to aggressively pursue unlicensed contractors with legal action, including fines and bans on illegal activity," Stenehjem said. "It is unfortunate when out-of-state contractors take advance payments from our consumers and then skip the state without completing the work. My office will do its best to pursue these fraudsters."

Consumers filed complaints about the contractors, stating that work they paid for in advance was never completed. Additionally, Stenehjem's office determined that none of the individuals had a contractor's license, which is required by state law.

Sweeney and Cueto allegedly misrepresented their mold removal services, took an advanced payment from a Minot resident and failed to perform the mold removal and demolition services.

Lee allegedly took advance payment totaling close to $7,000 from three consumers to replace siding, windows and a roof. He allegedly failed to complete the work as promised.