Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- An unlicensed Tooele contractor faces fraud charges.
- He allegedly took deposits without completing projects, including a recent fence job.
TOOELE — A Tooele contractor who prosecutors say has a lengthy history of accepting money for projects and then not completing or sometimes even starting the job, in addition to not being licensed, is facing more charges.
Alen George Saenz, 31, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with communications fraud, a second-degree felony; and for being an unlicensed contractor, a class A misdemeanor.
In his latest allegations, a Tooele County man contacted sheriff's deputies on Nov. 22 saying he hired Saenz to build a fence, according to charging documents.
"He asked (Saenz) specifically if he was licensed and bonded. (Saenz) assured the (victim) that he was. (Saenz) was not licensed or bonded," the charges state.
The victim gave Saenz $1,000 for a deposit. But "after getting stood up multiple times over the course of around a week-and-a-half, the (victim) became nervous he was getting scammed. (He) did an internet search of (Saenz) and discovered (Saenz's) multiple cases out of the Tooele 3rd District Court for stealing money from people," according to the charges.
On the same day the man contacted police, Saenz showed up at his door and the victim confronted him about the prior allegations against him. Saenz allegedly returned the man's deposit and said he would still build the fence.
"(Saenz) started drilling holes. After drilling some holes, (he) left several exposed holes to 'think' about continuing to do the job. The next day, after (Saenz) did not show up until noon, the (victim) asked if he was going to show up. (Saenz) indicated that he no longer wanted to do the job," according to charging documents.
Saenz's history of taking money from people goes back over two years, according to court records. In August, he was charged in 3rd District Court with three counts of theft, communications fraud, and engaging in construction without a license.
In June he pleaded guilty to theft in Tooele's 3rd District Court for taking more than $15,000 for a landscape job but " no significant progress was made on the project and (he) stopped responding to the victim," the charges state.
In April he pleaded guilty to theft in Tooele's 3rd District Court in four separate cases, according to court records. In one of those incidents, a victim paid Saenz $11,600 for landscape work but he "did not do the job and kept the money," charging documents state.
