PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. — A Putnam County contractor will spend time behind bars after failing to complete promised work.
John Luikhart, 32, of Buffalo, received a prison sentence between two and 20 years after entering a plea deal with Putnam County prosecutors weeks ago.
The state Attorney General’s Office investigated complaints of unfinished and fraudulent work and referred the case to the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office.
“This prosecution and punishment should serve as notice to all who would defraud consumers,” Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said. “Our office will aggressively pursue anyone who seeks to illicitly take money for services that they do not perform.”
Luikhart pleaded guilty to felony charges of fraudulent schemes and obtaining money by false pretenses, as well as a misdemeanor count of being a person prohibited from possessing a firearm. He agreed to pay restitution worth several thousand dollars to an air conditioning company as well as two customers.
Luikhart also has a case pending in Jackson County.