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Thursday, January 12, 2006

Clovis Man Convicted of Fraud in Contracting Case


Associated Press
      CLOVIS — A Clovis man has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison on convictions of fraud and contracting without a license.
    Arthur Castillo, 47, was accused of defrauding residents of Curry and Roosevelt counties, District Attorney Matthew Chandler said Thursday.
    Last summer, the New Mexico Construction Industries Commission listed Castillo on its New Mexico's Top 10 list of unlicensed contractors.
    Shortly afterward, Chandler said, his office began receiving complaints that Castillo had represented himself as being licensed, and had thus defrauded individuals and businesses out of thousands of dollars.
    Castillo would submit proposals for construction work or painting, and when he was awarded the job, would collect the money in advance but never return to do the work, Chandler said. Castillo also would not return money to people or businesses that hired him.
    State District Judge Joe Parker also sentenced Castillo to three years of probation once he is released from prison, and ordered him to pay full restitution during the probation period.

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