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Contractor Arrested: Accused of Ripping Off Victims Including Those Devastated by Hurricane Harvey

By: Kevin Quinn
| Published 07/26/2019

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HARRIS COUNTY, TX - As a result of an investigation which spanned more than a year, Harris County Precinct One Deputy Constables were able to arrest Keith Anton Johnson, 43, and charge him with aggregate theft.

Investigators believe Johnson ran a scheme from May of 2016 through April of 2018 in which he stole nearly $350,000 from unsuspecting victims who contracted with him for general construction work at their homes in Bellaire and surrounding areas.

Of the six victims, two were suffering the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey at the time of these schemes. Johnson preyed on these victims at a time when availability of general contractors was scarce. The families were thrilled just to have someone helping them rebuild their lives. Johnson is a con-man who used his charm and charisma to distract victims from his lack of construction expertise and his continued inability to explain why projects were not completed.

When Johnson was confronted for falling behind on delivery time of a project, he would regularly concoct a ruse about the construction materials being stolen from the job site. In one case Johnson told the property owner that five air conditioning units had been stolen from the job site, however investigators discovered no police report ever filed by Johnson.

“He took advantage of trusting clients and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from them, victimizing again many of the victims who had just endured so much in Hurricane Harvey,” said Constable Alan Rosen. “I want to ensure Johnson never is able to take another cent from another victim.”

Additional contractors had to come in and fix much of the work Johnson did, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in addition to what the victims had already lost.

Johnson was arrested at his Bryan-area home on July 17, 2019.

The charge of aggregate theft is a first degree felony. If convicted, it is punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

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