In Tucson, a duplicitous contractor scam has left an elderly couple out of $400,000 and without a home. Elizabeth Matthews and her husband, who had been saving to build their dream home, allege that the contractors they hired, brothers Andrew and Gabriel Carranza of Settlers West Home Builder LCC, took their money without completing the work.
According to a distressing report by AZFamily, the Matthews entered into a contract with the Carranza brothers in May 2022 for a custom home valued at over $1 million, funded mostly by a bank loan. Having expected a dream, the couple was confronted with a nightmare, as they stood gazing at the unfinished houses, the embodiment of their hard work and savings rendered into skeletal structures.
"We have the right to know where did that money go," Elizabeth Matthews told KOLD News 13. Her assertion captures the betrayal they feel, as more than $150,000 in deposits were cashed by the Carranza brothers but the promises made remained unmet. Furthermore, the Matthews sold their previous home and, without resorting to a loan, handed over an additional $150,000 in cash for a second project – a custom guest house also left undone.
The couple's hope of completion faded as delays mounted, and they found themselves requesting a refund for the $150,000, that they had paid for the guest house that they are yet to see any progress on. In a series of unfortunate events, Settlers West filed for bankruptcy after the couple's last check was cashed.
After repeated attempts for comment, Andrew Carranza gave no statement, as he would require consultation with his attorney, reflecting the gravity of the legal battle that is unfolding. The Arizona Registrar of Contractors received 18 complaints against Settlers West between February 2022 and February 2024, but their license was not revoked until the latter date.“I don’t know about the early complaints that were filed, but it looks like we had several revocations that all happened in February, so it looks like as soon as we were able to discipline the license, we did it in each case,” Chance Peterson from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors explained.
The couple, currently living in a rental home, face the prospect of needing at least another $400,000 to finish their homes. The registrar has provided tips for hiring contractors to help prevent such scams, including proper contracting, avoiding large upfront cash payments, and verifying contractor licenses.
