Couple indicted in All Seasons scam
Published 10:35 am Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Owners of a Grayson, Ky.-based storm-damage repair company who allegedly swindled dozens of Ironton residents out of money were indicted this week by a Lawrence County grand jury.
The indictments were filed Tuesday by the fraud division of the Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine’s office.
Patrick Richard, of Manhattan, Ill., owner of All Seasons of Kentucky Inc., was indicted on one count of first-degree engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, 23 counts of fifth-degree theft, 12 counts of fourth-degree theft from the elderly and 33 counts of third-degree money laundering.
Carol Richard, Patrick’s wife, was also indicted on a count of first-degree engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, as well as 35 counts of fifth-degree receiving stolen property and one count of third-degree money laundering.
Felony warrants have been issued for the couple’s arrest.
Joe Ross, detective with the Ironton Police Department, had been investigating the All Seasons case since early summer and said the indictments show that the people of Ironton are being vindicated.
“It’s been time consuming but it’s a joy and a relief to get the indictments,” Ross said. “We’ve been actively pursuing the company that was taking everyone’s money.”
According to Ross, at least 35 Ironton and Lawrence County residents were victims of the All Seasons scam and totaled more than $147,000 in lost money.
The company operated in Ironton from December 2012 to April 2013. Dozens of consumers complained that the business did no work at all or did work that was shoddy.
After taking consumers’ money and doing little or no work, records show the owners made personal car payments and yacht club payments from the All Seasons of Kentucky bank account, according to the attorney general’s office.
In September, the AG filed a civil suit against the couple, charging the business and its owners with multiple violations of Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act and Home Solicitation Sales Act, including failure to deliver, shoddy work and failure to give consumers proper notice of their right to cancel. The Attorney General seeks to stop further violations and to obtain full consumer restitution and civil penalties.
According to the lawsuit, the attorney general is seeking a civil penalty of $25,000 for each separate violation of the CSPA.