KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The former owner of Building Pro, a Lee's Summit-based remodeling and construction company, now faces criminal charges for allegedly taking money from customers then not performing any work.
Michael Ross, who now lists an address in Michigan, faces six counts of unlawful merchandising practices and two counts of financial exploitation of an elderly person in Jackson County Circuit Court, but that may be just the tip of iceberg.
Court documents, which were filed Monday, said Ross controlled company bank accounts and used customer payments for personal use.
The alleged victims included a Blue Springs couple who met with Building Pro sales representatives in May 2017 about a basement remodel.
The couple wrote Building Pros a check for more than $20,000, but no materials were delivered or the couple's basement hasn't been remodeled, according to court documents.
Another alleged victim gave the same two Building Pro sales reps a check for more than $10,000 for a kitchen remodel that was never done.
Ross did not give refunds to any of his alleged victims nor complete the agreed-upon repairs.
The charges were filed Monday in Jackson County Court.
No court date has been set for Ross to answer the charges.
It's also possible there will be more legal trouble on the horizon as additional victims come forward.
Ross filed for bankruptcy around two years ago. Building Pro's Chapter 7 bankruptcy case was dismissed last April, but most jilted homeowners remain committed to recovering their money.
