Couple will go to prison for defrauding homeowners

A North Texas couple will go to prison for promising hundreds of thousands of dollars in home renovations before destroying customers’ homes and keeping their money.

Tommy Ray Williams, 44, of Terrell was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. His 33-year-old girlfriend, Whitney Jane Law, of Point, was sentenced to 18 months for failing to report the fraud.

U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant also ordered the two to pay $820,900 in restitution to their victims.

The Department of Justice said several conspirators were involved in the scheme, which targeted elderly people. Williams and Law defrauded 18 homeowners from February to December 2017.

In the scheme, Williams received remodeling referrals from the Home Advisor website and contacted the homeowners to arrange site inspections, a federal complaint said. He traveled to homes alone or with his associates and provided a bid for service.

Williams required a large payment before starting each project and more money immediately after the work started, saying he needed it to cover the cost of materials.

Checks were made payable to Williams, Law or one of two business entities they used.

Afterward, workers went to the homes and began demolition work, often destroying plumbing, floors, wallboards, walls and roofing, the complaint said. In some instances, crew began installation or construction but soon abandoned the jobs, leaving the work unfinished.

Williams stopped responding to homeowners’ calls and did not return their money.

The Justice Department said Law knew about the fraud and failed to notify police. Prosecutors said she also helped conceal the criminal activity.

The two spent the ill-gotten money at casinos and to buy vehicles, including an off-road vehicle.

“The defendants are scammers that took more than money. They stole their victims’ sense of home,” said Matthew DeSarno, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas office. “Their schemes demanded payment, destroyed property and left behind worry and regret.”