Jeremy Jerod Zeno was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than $300,000 from clients, authorities said. Court records reviewed by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram show he was charged with theft involving property valued at $300,000 or more and accused of taking money from five victims.
The Tarrant County case began with a 2024 complaint to Benbrook police from a customer who said he had paid Zeno for renovation work that barely began. FOX4 reported that prosecutors said Zeno continued soliciting clients while on deferred adjudication in a separate Hood County matter and while out on bond in the Tarrant County case. Authorities said the money has not been recovered, so the sentence does not resolve whether victims will be repaid.
Local requirements are not a guarantee
The complaint arose in Benbrook, where the city says permits are required for new structures, additions and remodeling, subject to listed exemptions, and construction work is inspected. The city also says work generally must be done by a contractor registered there, with an exception for qualifying owner-performed work. Those rules concern permits, registration and construction requirements; they do not guarantee a contractor’s reliability or repayment if money is lost, according to the City of Benbrook.
For home-repair work, the Texas Attorney General advises consumers not to pay the full amount up front. The office says a complaint may include the individual’s details, a description of the dispute, transaction dates and amounts, and contract and payment information. Those precautions and records can help consumers document a dispute, but they cannot ensure work will be completed or prevent fraud.
A separate case shows a different restitution route
Restitution has taken a different form in a separate Stephenville fraud case: Robb Report said Clayton Lloyd Iley agreed to forfeit vehicles for sale to fund restitution to his victims. Iley’s case was prosecuted separately in federal court and involved different charges; the forfeiture agreement does not indicate that Zeno’s victims will recover their money. The cases are examples of distinct proceedings, not evidence of a broader trend.
