CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced his office aided in obtaining a guilty plea from an Eastern Panhandle contractor accused of violating state consumer protection laws, thanks to the efforts of his office and local law enforcement partners.
On Monday, Brian Keith Leopold, who had been doing business as Quality Concrete, pleaded guilty by way of Alford pleas to one felony count of obtaining money by false pretenses and one felony count of fraudulent schemes in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
Leopold faces a sentence of five years’ probation and is also prohibited from doing any concrete or other home improvement contracting work in West Virginia unless properly licensed. Additional terms of the plea agreement state that Leopold must pay $200 in restitution to consumers each month until all affected consumers are paid back.
Leopold had been charged with three felony counts of obtaining money by false pretenses and one felony count of fraudulent schemes.
“I’m pleased by the hard work of our office that assisted in this guilty plea, which would not have been possible without Jefferson County Prosecutor, Matt Harvey,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “This sends a clear message that anyone attempting to defraud consumers and operate outside the law will be brought to justice. Our office will always protect and defend consumers against dishonest business practices.”
This case involved the investigation of Leopold, a home improvement contractor, and fraudulent schemes the Attorney General’s office believed Leopold perpetuated upon consumers in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties.
The Attorney General’s office had received complaints from consumers in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties regarding Quality Concrete and Leopold, which were then referred to local prosecutors.
Leopold had been accused of performing home improvement contracting work without a valid West Virginia contractor’s license. In some instances, he received thousands of dollars from consumers for projects, but did none of the work promised.
Anyone who believes they have been the victim of contractor fraud should contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-368-8808, the Eastern Panhandle Consumer Protection Office in Martinsburg at 304-267-0239 or visit the office online at www.wvago.gov.
Read a copy of the plea agreement at https://bit.ly/33N8MMN.
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