Oakland County Garage Contractor Accused Of Scamming Homeowners

PONTIAC, MI — An Oakland County man who Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said repeatedly scammed homeowners out of tens of thousands of dollars has been arrested and arraigned on two felonies.

Artemio Sessions, 53, of Walled Lake, was arraigned Friday before 50th District Court Judge Michael Martinez on two felony charges as part of an ongoing investigation into what Nessel called a scam he ran through his business, Garages R Us.

Sessions is charged with one count of false pretenses over $1,000 but less than $20,000 and one count of conducting a criminal enterprise. The most severe of those charges is conducting a criminal enterprise, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine.

Sessions' bond was set at $5,000.

“An individual who hones and perfects a routine for defrauding individuals out of their hard-earned dollars is perpetrating a scam and must be held accountable,” Nessel said. “Consumers must always be on the alert for these kinds of criminals and take every reasonable precaution to protect themselves from those looking to take advantage of a situation.”

Nessel said that Sessions' charges stem from reports of scams in the communities of Pontiac, Westland, Rochester Hills, Mt. Clemens, Redford and Saline.

Sessions, authorities allege, defrauded customers out of tens of thousands of dollars for contracted jobs to build or repair garages that were never completed. Sessions would reportedly use the same methods to carry out his scheme on multiple occasions, prosecutors said, contracting with customers, receiving payment and then making excuses before never starting or completing the work.

After a period, Sessions would stop returning calls or messages, Nessel's office said.