PITTSFIELD — A contractor from Massachusetts is accused of stealing more than $400,000 from potential clients in five states including Columbia and Greene counties, according to Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington.
Fred Lewis Senter Jr., 40, of Pittsfield, was indicted by a grand jury on 30 counts of larceny for theft in amounts of $1,200, 12 counts of larceny over $1,200 from persons over the age of 60, four counts of larceny under $1,200, one count of operating as an unlicensed home improvement contractor and a charge of being a common and notorious thief, Harrington said.
“Mr. Senter is accused of contracting and accepting payments from more than 40 victims across five different states to build steel structures with no intent of completing the work,” Harrington said.
The crimes were committed between February of 2020 and September of 2021.
Senter acquired the work, as owner of Northern Steel Building and Structure, LLC. He dissolved the business in June of 2021 but allegedly continued to collect deposits, Harrington said.
Senter’s company was dissolved by court order on June 30, 2021.
One of the victims was the Richmond Fire Department, which paid Senter a deposit of $52,967 to construct a new steel building. Senter allegedly provided the blueprints and trusses for the project, but never completed the work or refunded the deposit, Harrington said.
Richmond Fire Department, which is located a few miles across the Columbia County line from New Lebanon, frequently responds to mutual-aid fire calls in northern Columbia County.
“These indictments demonstrate my office and law enforcement’s commitment to holding those who take advantage of others accountable,” Harrington said.
The five states that officials said Senter scammed people, businesses and a church are Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York.
The investigation began with Pittsfield police and at the same time state police detectives attached to the district attorney’s office began their probe, Harrington said.
Senter pleaded not guilty to all charges Thursday in Berkshire Superior Court.
Judge Maureen Hogan ordered Senter held on $25,000 bail.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police are looking for other victims. Harrington asked that any other potential victims contact local police or state police detectives in her office.
The number for the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office is 413-443-5951.