Two El Paso Men Charged in Separate Scams Targeting Elderly

Authorities say the suspects have a history of similar crimes and warn residents to be cautious when hiring contractors.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:23am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled, torn receipt or invoice, conceptually representing the financial exploitation of elderly victims in home repair scams.Scams targeting the elderly expose the need for greater protections and awareness around home repair fraud.El Paso Today

Two El Paso men were arrested and charged with deceptive business practices in separate cases after investigators said they were targeting elderly victims involving home and vehicle repairs. In one case, 53-year-old Jaime Montoya allegedly took nearly $800 and a vehicle from a 70-year-old victim after promising repairs but never returning the car. In another case, 65-year-old Gary William Starr allegedly took more than $2,000 from an 82-year-old man to replace a water heater but never completed the work or refunded the money.

Why it matters

Crimes targeting the elderly are a growing concern, as older victims can be more vulnerable to scams and less able to recover financially. These cases highlight the need for greater awareness and protections for senior citizens when hiring contractors or making home repairs.

The details

In the first case, deputies said Montoya acknowledged a notice from police about the vehicle but failed to return it as promised. He was already on probation for a similar offense when he was arrested in March. In the second case, the victim said Starr offered to replace his water heater with a tankless unit for $3,500, but after receiving $2,300 upfront, he never did the work and began ignoring the victim's attempts to contact him. Starr was later arrested and acknowledged receiving the payment but failing to complete the job.

  • On Feb. 11, the deputy conducting the investigation attempted to contact Montoya about the car.
  • On Feb. 13, Montoya said he would meet the victim to return the vehicle, but failed to do so.
  • Montoya was arrested in March.
  • On Feb. 27, the 82-year-old victim contacted CS Plumbing and its owner, Starr, to replace his water heater.
  • Starr was arrested on April 15 in Socorro.

The players

Jaime Montoya

A 53-year-old El Paso man who was arrested and charged with deceptive business practices after allegedly taking nearly $800 and a vehicle from a 70-year-old victim after promising repairs but never returning the car. He was already on probation for a similar offense.

Gary William Starr

A 65-year-old El Paso man who was arrested and charged with deceptive business practices and theft after allegedly taking more than $2,000 from an 82-year-old man to replace a water heater but never completing the work or refunding the money.

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What’s next

The judge will determine the suspects' bail and whether they will be released pending trial.

The takeaway

These cases highlight the vulnerability of elderly residents to home repair scams and the need for greater protections and awareness to prevent such crimes against senior citizens.