A warrant is out for Pewaukee roofing contractor Robert Lyons after prosecutors say he took money from at least seven Waukesha County customers, then failed to finish the work. The case, according to charging documents, involves more than $55,000 in payments and includes five alleged elderly victims.
Prosecutors: Felony Counts, Open Warrant and Unfinished Jobs
According to WISN, Lyons faces seven felony counts of theft by contractor, and a warrant is active for his arrest. The station reports that some roofing jobs were never started, while others were left partially completed or so poorly done that homeowners had to bring in other crews to finish or repair the work. A search of state business records cited by WISN shows Raise The Roof Roofing Systems was dissolved in 2023.
Homeowner: "Not Very Good"
Sarah Haas of Oconomowoc told WISN that her $26,000 hailstorm repair dragged on for months and was, in her words, "not very good." She said she ultimately paid another contractor about $7,000 to properly finish the job. Images shared with the station show holes, missing siding and sloppy caulking that homeowners say were left behind.
Business Record and Consumer Complaints
The Better Business Bureau lists Raise The Roof Roofing Systems, registered to Robert W. Lyons, with an F rating and multiple complaints about unfinished or poor work. BBB guidance also urges homeowners to limit down payments and tie additional payments to specific stages of work to cut the risk of being left with a half-done project.
What the Law Covers
Under Wisconsin law, money paid to a contractor for property improvements can be treated as a trust for paying labor and materials. Misusing those funds can support criminal theft charges under Wis. Stat. § 943.20 and related contractor-theft provisions. Courts and legal summaries note that knowingly using those funds for other purposes before paying subcontractors or suppliers can be prosecuted as felony theft. Justia provides background on how those statutes have been applied in past cases.
How to Protect Yourself and Next Steps
Homeowners who believe they were cheated are advised to save contracts, invoices, photos and any texts or emails, then contact local law enforcement. They can also file consumer complaints with state agencies. The Better Business Bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection offer guidance and complaint forms; see BBB and Wisconsin DATCP for resources and filing steps.
