Maine law lets prosecutors charge contractor fraud, but victims are often told it's a civil matter

WGME's I-Team asked every district attorney's office in Maine how often cases come in under the state's home construction or repair fraud statute, a Class D misdemeanor. York County reported 20 referrals over three years: one conviction, 12 pending. Cumberland County had 15, with three convictions and seven pending. None came from Aroostook, Hancock or Washington counties. Androscoggin County counted 29 cases under the fraud and theft statutes together, involving 23 defendants.

Several offices said they often charge such cases as theft by deception, which can be a felony depending on the amount taken. Without prior convictions, home repair fraud may stay a misdemeanor. Because the theft law covers far more than construction, most offices could not give exact numbers.

Westbrook police showed what a full investigation takes. Officer Josh Morrow took a homeowner's report in late 2023, spent more than 11 months on it and turned up more than two dozen customers of contractor Timothy Galvez. A grand jury indicted Galvez on felony theft in summer 2025. He pleaded guilty in June 2026, was spared jail time and was ordered to repay homeowners hundreds of thousands of dollars. Morrow told WGME a contract dispute can also be a crime once a pattern of behavior shows up.

Maine is one of six states with no registration or licensing for general home contractors, though the attorney general's office receives hundreds of contractor fraud complaints a year, the station has reported. A licensing bill passed last session but failed when lawmakers did not fund it. The state's Home Construction Contract Act does require a written contract on jobs over $3,000 and limits deposits to one-third of the price.