Couple to make plea in scam

Published 11:08 am Thursday, June 19, 2014

A husband and wife accused of swindling Ironton residents out of more than $147,000 for home repair services not received are scheduled to plead guilty on July 3.

Owners of All Seasons of Kentucky, Leo Patrick Richard Jr., and his wife, Carol Richard, both of Manhattan, Ill., were indicted in November on more than 100 criminal acts following a months-long investigation by the Ironton Police Department and Ohio Attorney General’s Office into allegations the company was paid for home repair services but did not perform any or all of the work they were hired to do.

Patrick Richard was charged with 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.

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Carol Richard was charged with 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.

The case will be heard in Common Pleas Judge D. Scott Bowling’s courtroom.

The consumer protection and economic crimes unit of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, is the prosecutor for the case.

The Richards are represented by Columbus-based attorney Neil Rosenberg.

All Seasons of Kentucky operated in Ironton from December 2012 to April 2013. Dozens of consumers complained the business did no work at all or did work that was shoddy.

After taking consumers’ money and doing little or no work, records allegedly 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. The case is still pending.