North Kingstown Contractor Sentenced For Defrauding Narragansett, Exeter Homeowners

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — A contractor from North Kingstown was sentenced Friday to 30 months in prison after pleading to fraudulently cashing home insurance checks.

On June 6, Francis Martin, 62, pleaded nolo contendere to five counts of forgery. He was sentenced to 10 years, with 30 months to serve at the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston, with the rest of the sentence being suspended. He must also serve 10 years of probation and pay $65,000 in restitution.

Had the case proceeded to trial, state prosecutors said they were prepared to prove in 2014, Martin forged signatures on insurance checks, for construction work that he never completed, fraudulently collecting more than $72,000 from two homeowners in Narragansett and Exeter. Prosecutors said Martin was credited for some of the work he performed.

"When contractors ignore the law and prey on homeowners, endangering their safety and emptying their pocketbooks, strong action by this office is warranted," Attorney General Neronha said. "My message to these types of predatory businesses: Our office stands ready to protect consumers and businesses who play by the rules, and if you break the law and rip people off Rhode Islanders, we will be there to ensure you are held accountable."

In March 2016, Rhode Island State Police received complaints from the two homeowners about Martin, who they hired to repair significant water damage at their respective homes.

In March 2014, the first victim hired Martin to fix a water leak in the basement of her home and after meeting with him to discuss the scope of the damage, she decided to file a claim with her insurance company. Martin offered to deal with the victim’s insurance company directly, and she agreed to let him.

In April and June of that year, Martin called the victim to endorse a total of three checks he received from her insurance company, each of which was made payable to the victim, Martin, and Rhode Island Housing as the mortgage holder. And each check was signed by the victim, stamped by the defendant, and contained a handwritten signature of "Rhode Island Housing." After Martin received the final check, he and his work crew abandoned the job, prosecutors said.

In an almost identical situation, prosecutors said the second victim hired Martin to fix significant water damage in her home. Again, Martin offered to contact her insurance company directly.

In July 2014, Martin met with the victim, so she could endorse the two checks he had received from her insurance company. Once again, after Martin received the checks, he and his work crew abandoned the job, prosecutors said.

Martin was also charged with several misdemeanor counts of failing to comply with final orders of the RI Contractor's Registration and Licensing Board. That case remains pending in Providence Superior Court.

"I applaud the investigative efforts of our Troopers and the Attorney General’s office for bringing the defendant to justice," state police Col. Darnell Weaver said. "The Rhode Island State Police and its Financial Crimes Unit is committed to targeting and eradicating this type of illegal behavior."