WENTZVILLE, Mo. — A Wentzville contractor accused of scamming dozens of customers out of thousands of dollars is now in custody and facing felony charges.
Craig J. Sutton, the operator of Tri-County Fence and Deck, was charged with 22 felonies, including stealing and financial exploitation of the elderly, last month. He was arrested on Thursday.
The charges were issued after 5 On Your Side reported on the Wentzville contractor in September of 2022. A few weeks later, Wentzville Police, Mayor Nick Guccione and the Better Business Bureau issued warnings about the company.
The Wentzville Board of Alderman along with the mayor revoked the business license for the company later that month.
From April of 2022 to September, Sarah Wetzel with the Better Business Bureau said the BBB received complaints from consumers who reported losses totaling over $125,000.
“They’re stating they’re an 'A+' accredited business which isn’t true,” Wetzel said in September. “If you come to BBB.org and look at their business profile they have an F-rating, which is the lowest rating you can have.”
When the charges were issued on April 28, Sutton's bond was set at $75,000, cash only. In all, he was charged with:
- Nine counts of stealing $750 or more
- eight counts of unlawful merchandise practice misrepresentation/unfair practices in connection with a sale
- two counts of deceptive business practices
- two counts of financial exploitation of the elderly
- one county of stealing $25,000 or more