News Summary
Multiple contractors in Evansville are facing serious charges related to theft and fraudulent practices. Allegations involve altering checks, unfinished repairs, and significant financial losses for homeowners. Key figures include Matthew Martin, Eric Morgan, and the Keys couple, each accused of misconduct that has left community members vulnerable and seeking legal recourse. Investigations continue, raising concerns about the protection of homeowners in construction dealings.
Evansville – Multiple local contractors are facing serious legal charges tied to theft and fraud, with allegations ranging from altering checks to unfinished home repairs. The Evansville community is now grappling with the fallout of these alleged fraudulent practices impacting vulnerable homeowners.
Matthew Martin, owner of Matthew Martin Construction, has been charged with fraud and theft after allegedly altering a check from an elderly couple he had worked for. The couple initially hired Martin for various small jobs, mostly costing no more than $300. However, in a deceptive maneuver, Martin requested that they leave the payee line of a check blank and only fill in the numerical dollar amount. This allowed him to later fill in the payee section for himself, resulting in a theft of nearly $10,000.
Authorities recovered two additional blank checks belonging to the victims from Martin’s wallet during the investigation. In a troubling admission, Martin confessed to using a portion of the stolen money to take his child to Disney World. He has been released on a $2,500 bond and is restricted from any contact with the victims as the case proceeds through the legal system.
In a separate case, Eric Morgan, operating as Eric Morgan DBA Rugged Construction, is facing multiple counts of theft and fraud after taking over $152,619.72 from a homeowner for a room addition project intended to accommodate the homeowner’s ailing mother. Hired in October 2023, Morgan received an initial down payment of $25,000. However, the work was significantly delayed, and when it finally commenced in February 2024, Morgan failed to adhere to the agreed contract terms, neglected to order paid-for kitchen cabinets, and amassed nearly $9,000 in unpaid HVAC services, resulting in a mechanic’s lien against the homeowner’s property.
Investigators have flagged additional concerns regarding Morgan’s operations, revealing that he executed work without a valid contractor’s license, insurance, or necessary building permits. In a further violation, he submitted a permit application for the construction under another individual’s name without their knowledge. Authorities suspect that multiple agencies are investigating Morgan for similar fraudulent activities based on past convictions, including a 2017 federal court ruling for Securities Fraud which generated approximately $650,000 in losses.
Notably, the Key couple, Jacob Andrew Key and Brooklyn Deshae Key, owners of Keys Contracting, are also facing legal repercussions for fraud. They are accused of collecting over $178,000 from homeowners for storm damage repairs following a tornado and failing to complete the promised work. Homeowners reported that their residences were left unfinished and vulnerable to further damage, suffering from shoddy workmanship, and that necessary permits were not obtained during the reconstruction process.
As a result of the Keys’ alleged actions, several affected homeowners have initiated civil lawsuits seeking damages. The Keys have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and are also prohibited from contacting the homeowners at this stage in the legal proceedings.
With these serious allegations, investigations into the fraudulent activities of these contractors are ongoing, leaving many in the community to wonder about the protections in place for homeowners engaging construction services in Evansville.
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- 14 News: Evansville Contractor Arrested
- Courier & Press: Construction Company Owners Face Fraud Charges
- WEVV: Contractor Accused of Fraud and Theft
- TriState Homepage: Contractor Arrested for Home Improvement Fraud
- Courier & Press: Contractor Stole $150K from Homeowner
- Wikipedia: Fraud
- Google Search: Contractor Fraud
- Google Scholar: Contractor Fraud
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Fraud
- Google News: Contractor Arrest
Author: STAFF HERE LOS ANGELES WRITER
LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER The LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELosAngeles.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and beyond, specializing in "news you can use" with coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while delivering top reporting on high-value events like the Academy Awards, LA Auto Show, and Los Angeles Marathon, extending coverage to key organizations such as the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, plus leading businesses in entertainment and technology like Warner Bros. and SpaceX, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREAnaheim.com , HERECostaMesa.com , HEREHuntingtonBeach.com , and HERESantaAna.com , providing comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape. HERE Anaheim HERE Beverly Hills HERE Coronado HERE Costa Mesa HERE Hollywood HERE Huntington Beach HERE Long Beach HERE Los Angeles HERE Mission Viejo HERE San Diego HERE Santa Ana
