FRANKFORT, Ky. (November 25, 2020) – Attorney General Daniel Cameron today announced that an investigation by his Office of Consumer Protection resulted in the conviction of James M. Twaddle, 48, of Columbus, Ohio, for stealing more than $60,000 from Kentuckians in a roofing scam.
“Scammers who take advantage of trusting consumers will be held accountable by our office,” said Attorney General Cameron. “I am thankful to Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine for the work of his team in prosecuting this case and to our investigators within the Office of Consumer Protection for their thorough work to investigate this matter on behalf of Kentuckians.”
The Attorney General’s investigation found that, while doing business as Restore-It USA, Twaddle entered into roof replacement contracts with sixteen Jefferson County victims over a four-month period in 2012. After receiving funds from the victims, neither Twaddle nor his company performed the promised work and, instead, Twaddle diverted the money he received for his own use. The Ohio business owner admitted to the charges and, earlier this month, pled guilty to eleven counts of theft by deception over $500.
Last week, Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Barry Willet sentenced Twaddle to five years for each of the eleven counts. Judge Willet also ordered him to pay restitution to the victims, totaling $61,298.98. The sentences will run concurrently and are probated for five years, or until restitution is paid in full.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jeffrey Cooke prosecuted the case on behalf of Commonwealth’s Attorney Thomas B. Wine, 30th Judicial Circuit. Investigator Michael Smithers of the Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection investigated the case.
“Our office works hard to prosecute scammers who steal from hardworking Kentuckians,” said Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Cooke. “I am pleased that together with the help of the investigators from the Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection we were able to secure a conviction against this defendant and obtain an order requiring that he reimburse victims for their financial loss.”
Kentuckians can report suspected scams to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline by calling 888-432-9257 or by filing an online complaint at ag.ky.gov/scams.