Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a settlement with Brandon Michael Ferguson and his business, Community Blacktop, LLC. The agreement mandates the dissolution of the company and a $100,000 payment to the State of Minnesota for victim restitution. Ferguson's company allegedly defrauded consumers by offering substandard asphalt work at inflated prices.
Ellison's office claims that Ferguson misled customers by suggesting leftover asphalt from nearby projects could be used for discounts. Some consumers were told Ferguson was involved in state highway projects, which was untrue according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation records.
The Attorney General’s Office reported instances where quoted prices were significantly lower than what was eventually charged. In one case, a Minnesotan was billed $17,000 after being quoted between $2,000 and $3,000 for driveway tarring. Another customer received an $8,000 bill for an entire driveway paving after requesting a small parking area addition for $320.
Ferguson admitted to procuring consent through fraud and violating consumer protection laws in Minnesota. The Attorney General’s Office collaborated with various law enforcement agencies across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan to hold Ferguson accountable.
Attorney General Ellison stated: “No one should be the victim of these kinds of predatory and fraudulent business practices, particularly older Minnesotans.” He emphasized the importance of researching offers before making purchases: “These incidents underscore how important it is to take your time... if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Due to poor recordkeeping by Ferguson’s company, identifying all victims may be challenging. Ellison urged affected individuals to contact his office: “We need people to reach out to us if they’ve been scammed by this business.”
Consumers are encouraged to report scams involving Mr. Ferguson or Community Blacktop via the Attorney General's online complaint form or by calling designated phone numbers.