ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis County grand jury has indicted a 38-year-old man on multiple felony charges related to an alleged scheme to defraud consumers through his contracting businesses, All in One Contracting and JCB Construction Service.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced the charges, which include one felony count of financial exploitation of an elderly person, one felony count of stealing, and two felony counts of deceptive business practices.
According to prosecutors, between February 2022 and March 2024, Joseph C. Benne solicited consumers for home renovation projects, requiring substantial upfront payments.
However, after receiving the money, he allegedly abandoned the projects, in some cases delivering only minimal materials, while in others, failing to provide any materials or perform any work at all.
Bailey said his office is committed to protecting consumers from fraudulent business practices.
"As Attorney General, I will always hold accountable those who target innocent Missourians," Bailey said in a provided statement. "My Consumer Protection Unit will continue to work around the clock to obtain justice for any consumer who has been ripped off."
The indictment details multiple incidents in which Benne allegedly deceived customers into paying for services he did not intend to complete.
One of the most serious charges, financial exploitation of an elderly person, stems from a case where Benne promised to complete a bathroom remodel for $26,350 but failed to fulfill his obligations, causing financial harm to victims over the age of 60.
That charge carries a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Benne also faces charges of deceptive business practices and stealing.
One count of stealing alleges that between April 2023 and November 2023, Benne took at least $750 from a consumer under false pretenses, claiming he would complete a bathroom renovation.
Another count of deceptive business practices accuses him of knowingly making false promises about purchasing materials and completing home improvement work, intending to defraud consumers.
The penalties for the charges vary. The class C felony of financial exploitation of an elderly person carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. The class D felony of stealing has a penalty range of one to seven years, while the class E felony of deceptive business practices is punishable by up to four years in prison.
Each count may also include fines of up to $10,000 or twice the amount gained from the alleged crimes.
"The range punishment for a class C felony is imprisonment in the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections for a term of years not less than three (3) years and not to exceed ten (10) years; or by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000); or by both imprisonment and a fine," the indictment stated. "If money or property has been gained through the commission of the crime, any fine imposed may be not more than double the amount of the offender's gain from the commission of the crime."
Benne is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The Attorney General’s office encourages any additional victims to come forward and report similar fraudulent activity.
St. Louis County Circuit Court Cause No. 25 SL CR 00287