CONTRACTOR CONVICTED…AGAIN!!!
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El
Paso County
Attorney José R. Rodríguez announced today the sentencing of a Landscaping
Contractor accused of 3 charges of Deceptive Business Practices.
On Thursday November 16th
in County Criminal Court #1 Gerardo Rangel, doing business as “Rangel General
Construction and Landscaping,” pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to
one year probation, to serve 450 hours of community service, and to pay $4,850
in restitution to the victims. The judge also assessed a $6,000 fine, which was
probated.
According to the criminal
complaints, between March 24 and August 27, 2006, Rangel received $6,400 in
advance to do landscaping work at 3 residences in East El
Paso, but failed to complete the work.
Rangel had previously pled guilty to
5 charges of Deceptive Business Practices in June, 2005 and sentenced to 1 year
in prison but granted ‘work release’ privileges. However he was re-arrested
after failing to comply with the “work release” order and served approximately
10 months in jail.
El Paso County
Attorney José R.
Rodríguez said consumers should always check the background on contractors
before giving them their hard earned money.
“In
these cases, had the consumers checked Mr. Rangel’s background, they would have
found that he had been previously convicted of Deceptive Business practices,”
said Rodríguez.
“Consumers
should always check the reputation of the vendor with agencies such as the
Better Business Bureau, the Texas Attorney General, or our office” said
Rodríguez.
For more information please contact
Assistant County Attorney Kent Sutton at 546-2050.
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Rangel Convicted Press Release.pdf