Contractor Arrested for Abandoning Downtown Laredo Remodeling Job After Taking $19K

The 49-year-old contractor faces charges of deceptive trade practices after allegedly leaving the project unfinished.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:36pm

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A contractor in Laredo, Texas has been arrested and charged with a Class A misdemeanor of deceptive trade practices after allegedly accepting $19,400 for a remodeling project in downtown Laredo and then abandoning the job with almost no work completed. The homeowner contacted the contractor in June after seeing his work advertised on social media, but the contractor stopped responding to calls and texts after taking the money.

Why it matters

This case highlights the risks homeowners face when hiring contractors, especially those found through social media advertising, and the need for stronger consumer protections against deceptive practices in the home improvement industry along the Texas-Mexico border region.

The details

According to the police report, the 49-year-old contractor was hired in June by a homeowner in the 1700 block of Victoria Street in downtown Laredo for a remodeling project. The homeowner paid the contractor $19,400, but the contractor allegedly abandoned the job with almost no work completed. The homeowner attempted to contact the contractor multiple times after the work was abandoned, but the calls and texts went unanswered.

  • The homeowner hired the contractor in June 2026.
  • The homeowner reported the theft to police on September 26, 2026.
  • The contractor was arrested on March 16, 2026 and posted a $10,000 bond the same day.

The players

49-year-old contractor

The contractor who was hired for the remodeling project and is accused of taking the money and abandoning the job.

Homeowner

The resident of the 1700 block of Victoria Street in downtown Laredo who hired the contractor and paid him $19,400 for the unfinished remodeling work.

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What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the contractor to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the importance of thoroughly vetting contractors, obtaining detailed contracts, and considering legal recourse when homeowners fall victim to deceptive practices in order to protect consumers in Laredo and along the Texas-Mexico border.