A serial home improvement fraudster pleaded guilty Monday as part of a deal with the state that may allow him to avoid jail time.
Ryan Kimball, 33, allegedly took thousands of dollars from multiple Vermonters for work he never performed and faced five counts of home improvement fraud in Washington County Superior Court.
Under the deal, he pleaded guilty to two felony counts of fraud, crimes that could carry three to six years in prison.
Washington County Deputy State’s Attorney Malachi Brennan will press for a two year jail sentence at a hearing on Nov. 26. Kimball’s lawyers will argue for no jail time.
If Judge Mary Morrissey does decide against prison time, Kimball would be placed under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. If he violates the terms of his probation, then the jail time would be served.
Kimball faces additional charges of home improvement fraud in Essex and Caledonia counties, which are not covered in the plea deal. Kimball declined to comment after Monday’s hearing.
Kimball has allegedly swindled multiple Vermont residents out of thousands of dollars for home improvement contracts he entered into and never finished. Even after complaints were brought against Kimball, he continued to solicit contracts for home improvement projects. A judge denied a motion last week to revoke his bail.
Tina Desmarais, who attended Monday’s hearing, entered into a contract with Kimball in July in which he agreed to put a new roof on her home. As a part of a $20,000 project, Kimball requested a nearly $11,000 deposit. Desmarais gave him the money and never saw him again. He left the project unfinished.
Desmarais said she was disappointed to hear that Kimball could potentially serve a reduced prison sentence, or no time in jail at all.
“I think he got off way too easy,” Desmarais said, adding that she believed Kimball would continue to defraud other Vermonters.
“It appears the state of Vermont fosters and maintains an environment where the betrayal of trust can and does flourish.” she said.
Desmarais and the other victims from Washington County will receive some type of restitution from Kimball. At the hearing, Kimball said he plans to put $400 a week into a restitution fund for the victims, but a formal plan won’t be finalized until the sentencing hearing.
Brennan said plea deals can be used to expedite the criminal court process. Kimball’s agreement, he added, holds him accountable and allows him to stay productive.
“Here, we made an offer that we believed achieved the end goal,” Brennan said, “and struck an appropriate balance between punishment, deterrence, but also rehabilitation and allowing the defendant to be a productive working member of society, by earning a paycheck.”
