On December 13, 2024, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office made a significant arrest. The owner of Rooftop Construction, a local home improvement firm, was taken into custody on felony fraud charges. This came after a local resident filed a complaint regarding a contract for storm damage repair. Hanzel Ka Hoag was apprehended on a felony warrant for fraud, a Level 6 felony, and is currently held at the Vanderburgh County Jail on a $1,000 bond, awaiting a court appearance. There is also an outstanding felony warrant for another Rooftop Construction owner, John Michael Shamo.

Victim's Storm-Damaged Home and Initial Contract

In April 2024, a tornado caused significant damage to a local resident's home when a large tree fell on it. An engineer hired by the victim's insurance company assessed the damage and estimated that the cost of necessary repairs and replacements would exceed $75,000. This included the removal and replacement of the entire roof. Based on this assessment, the victim contracted Rooftop Construction, owned by Shamo and Hoag, to carry out the repairs. However, as the work progressed, concerns arose.Specific issues emerged such as only partial roof replacement instead of the full roof and framing replacement as stipulated in the contract. Old insulation was used in areas where new insulation was required, and new siding was improperly installed, showing poor workmanship. The victim initially paid over $26,000 for the repairs and was later asked for more payments to continue the work. When she expressed concerns about the quality and refused further payments until the issues were resolved, the contractors stopped construction and stopped communicating with her. They also refused to refund any of the payments.

Investigation and Compliance Issues

The victim reported the matter to the Sheriff's Office, leading to an investigation conducted by Detective Tony Toopes. This investigation, in consultation with the Vanderburgh County Building Commission and its inspectors, revealed that a significant portion of the work was not up to code, lacked proper permits, and failed required inspections. Moreover, the contract itself did not comply with Indiana state codes.When interviewed, Shamo and Hoag claimed they were unaware of the compliance issues and believed their work was satisfactory. But now, the victim is seeking estimates to repair both the original storm damage and the substandard work performed by Rooftop Construction. These additional repairs are expected to exceed the original estimate, as much of the completed work will need to be redone.

Sheriff's Comment on the Case

Sheriff Noah Robinson emphasized, "Mr. Shamo and Mr. Hoag took advantage of homeowners during a time of great need, exploiting their urgency for repairs and assistance. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to ensuring that those who unlawfully profit from the misfortunes of others are brought to justice and held fully accountable for their actions."ARRESTED: Hanzel Ka Hoag, 52, of Evansville: Fraud (Level 6 Felony)WANTED: John Michael Shamo, 61, of Evansville: Fraud (Level 6 Felony)Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.