More Repair Fraud Charges For Elmhurst Man: Cops

Elmhurst IL

01 February, 2021

2:01 PM

Description

ELMHURST, IL — An Elmhurst man is facing charges in yet another jurisdiction for a similar pattern, accepting a hefty down payment for home repairs but doing little actual work, police say. Last week, Edmund Kavanaugh, 52, was charged in connection with home repair fraud in suburban Niles, according to a Niles police news release. Over the summer, Patch documented how Kavanaugh collected $10,000 for home repair work at a Hinsdale couple's house, but completed little of the project. In Niles, Kavanaugh took a $3,200 down payment from a resident, but only completed minimal work, which actually caused damage to the victim's home, the release said. The issue was reported to police last June. Police said Kavanaugh was using an alias when contracting the work. Last Thursday, Kavanaugh was processed for five counts of home repair fraud at the Cook County courthouse in Maywood, where he was taken for a bond hearing in a separate incident, police said. He is in custody at the Will County Jail facing similar charges from several law enforcement agencies across multiple counties, according to the release. The investigation into Kavanaugh has been supported by the Illinois Attorney General's Office. In June, Patch found many examples of a Facebook user operating under the name "Jessica Munoz" answering inquiries on suburban "Moms" Facebook pages for home repair services. The user recommended a number of businesses with the same phone number, which is Kavanaugh's. The business names included Edward Paint Pros, Deck Pros, Tile Guys, Kitchen Guy and Arana Construction. In interviews with Patch last summer, Kavanaugh said the Hinsdale couple's account of their dealings with him was full of lies, at one point calling the woman a slur typically used against females. He said he stopped doing agreed-upon work after the man emailed him that he was not allowed on their property. Kavanaugh promised to send that document to Patch, but did not. In October, he was charged with multiple home repair fraud counts from across the Chicago area.