Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced his office is charging the owner and president of an Evergreen Park, Illinois fencing company for allegedly scamming Cook County residents out of more than $20,000 for work he never completed.
Attorney General Raoul charged Eric Zabalza, 42, of Chicago, with 13 counts of theft, Class 3 felonies each punishable by up to five years in prison, and three counts of home repair fraud, Class 4 felonies each punishable by up to three years in prison.
“Illinois residents who enter into contracts and pay deposits for home repair work should be able to rely on businesses to complete the work promised,” Raoul said. “I will continue to enforce laws that protect consumers from bad actors who take advantage of them by accepting payments without performing any work.”
Zabalza is the owner and president of Sierra Fencing Inc., a full-service fence company located in suburban Evergreen Park. Raoul’s indictment alleges that between March and June 2021, Zabalza entered into contracts with eight Cook County consumers, in which he agreed to install fences. Each consumer made down payments for the fence installations, totaling $20,449. However, neither Zabalza nor Sierra Fencing installed the fences.
The public is reminded the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assistant Attorney General Robert Schwarz is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s Criminal Enforcement Division.
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