A Las Vegas landscaping contractor, John Thomas Banning, has been arrested for allegedly defrauding homeowners of over $300,000. Banning, who operates JTB Landscaping, faces eight felony charges after being taken into custody on Tuesday with an outstanding warrant. Homeowners, many of them seniors, claim Banning took large deposits for landscaping and pool projects but never started or completed the work.
KTNV describe the victims' losses totaling over $308,000. The Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) expressed appreciation for the Attorney General’s Office in helping locate and arrest Banning. "Our Board appreciates the partnership and swift efforts of the Attorney General’s Office in locating and apprehending Mr. Banning who has demonstrated himself to be a contractor with little regard for the law and wellbeing of the members of our community," said NSCB Executive Officer David Behar.
The NSCB has issued warnings to homeowners on how to spot untrustworthy contractors. As noted in FOX 5 report, red flags include large down payments, cash-only deals, improper documentation of project terms, discrepancies in contractor records, and high-pressure sales tactics like "today-only" pricing. These tips aim to help homeowners make better decisions when hiring contractors.
Homeowners who have been defrauded by licensed contractors have up to four years to file complaints with the NSCB. For work done by an unlicensed contractor, complaints can be filed within two years. The NSCB investigates each complaint and explores potential remedies. The organization encourages homeowners to report concerns or suspicious activities on their website.
