Contractors arrested for defrauding victims $2 million
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — A husband and wife have been arrested for financial crimes totaling more than $2 million committed through the operation of their home renovation contracting business.
According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO), the investigation division received information in the fall of 2023 that a contractor was possibly operating fraudulently throughout the state of Colorado, including unincorporated El Paso County.
EPSO said it opened an investigation into Craftsman Homes and Interiors LLC, conducting interviews and reviewing countless financial records, which lead to the discovery of 19 victims.
Following an extensive investigation, on Tuesday, March 5, EPSO said 52-year-old Dwight Mulberry and his 40-year-old wife Joni Mulberry were arrested on 43 total charges, including 22 counts of money laundering, six counts of fraud by check, 12 counts of theft, and three counts of securities fraud.
EPSO said the investigation revealed the Mulberrys had stolen, defrauded, and laundered more than $2 million in funds from victims between 2021 and 2023. They are being held in the El Paso County Jail on $25,000 bond.
“As the duly elected Sheriff of El Paso County, I prioritize holding criminals accountable, whether it be a violent crime or white collar,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal. “I thank the citizens who brought forth the information to our Office and the amazing EPSO detectives who worked hard to seek justice for multiple victims. My Office is focused on maintaining community safety, holding criminals accountable, and reducing victims. El Paso County is our home, and we are grateful to serve this community.”
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