In the culmination of a joint investigation by the New York Attorney General’s Office and the New York State Police, John McClure and Sarah Chambers of Granville, Washington County, have been convicted and sentenced for perpetrating a contractor fraud scheme, which conned over a dozen homeowners out of more than $1.5 million, the Attorney General's Office announced. As reported, the defendants advertised home improvement services on several platforms including Facebook and Google, but often failed to complete the work or provided substandard services necessitating further repairs, using the funds for personal leisure and high-ticket items instead.
McClure, 45, has been sentenced to a five to 15-year prison term, while Chambers, 38, received a six-month jail sentence coupled with five years of probation, during the sentencings they agreed to judgments in excess of $890,000 in favor of the victims for this fraudulent scheme that lasted from September 2019 to August 2023, their spending habits revealed personal extravagance including casino visits, luxury cars, and funding a retail storefront called MG Sales, Attorney General Letitia James labeled the crime "disgraceful" considering it preyed on the trust of hard-working individuals. In a statement obtained by the Attorney General's Office, James commended the collaborative effort in law enforcement that ensured accountability for those who exploit New Yorkers.
The investigation uncovered that between September 2019 and August 2023, McClure, with accessory help from his wife, attracted customers by promoting contracting work including home building, renovations and other construction services, not only did McClure and Chambers neglect agreed upon projects but when caught in their web of deceit, they refused to refund the homeowners, forcing some to shoulder additional costs for rectifying shabby work done, if any, by McClure.
A detailed forensic audit conducted by the Office of the Attorney General showcased a trail of funds being diverted for non-business related expenses, be it cash withdrawals, casino ventures, and even payments towards familial obligations such as child support and family member's transport fancied with the likes of a 1927 Bugatti and a refurbished monster truck, all at the expense of innocent homeowners looking for honest work; as a victim to the fraudulent entanglements, Chambers provided fake endorsements for the construction business and facilitated the opening of bank accounts to pool the ill-gotten funds, enabling McClure to elude creditors. In November 2025, both McClure and Chambers entered guilty pleas, with McClure facing additional sentencing in Warren County scheduled for February 4, 2026, according to details released by the Attorney General's Office.
The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office with Assistant Attorneys General Cheryl Lee and John Healy at the helm, Forensic Auditor Investigator Bashiri Kirven handling the fiscal autopsies under supervision from Chief Auditor Kristen Fabbri, and the criminal investigation led by Detective Investigator Jason Johnston and Senior Detective Eamon Murphy, recognizing the efforts of the New York State Police Financial Crimes Unit for their indispensable aid in unraveling the deceit and securing the convictions.
