PRESCOTT, Ariz. — An unlicensed contractor was sentenced to 43 years in prison after a Yavapai County jury found him guilty of scamming elderly clients.
Mark Whittington, 64, of Chino Valley pocketed up to $70,000 for home remodeling work he failed to compete for eight victims, according to the Yavapai County Attorney's Office.
The defendant used fraudulent identities to target elderly victims and then ghosted clients after taking their money, but before finishing the work, prosecutors said.
"The sheer amount stolen by Mr. Whittington, and the number of older victims, is shocking," County Attorney Dennis McGrane said in a statement. "I encourage anyone who is planning on hiring someone to do home repairs to check references and contact the Arizona Registrar of Contractors to confirm that they are a licensed contractor in good standing.”
The jury found Whittington guilty of theft, fraud and contracting without a license. The defendant has previously been convicted of similar crimes.
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