Elderly couple scammed out of $33K in roofing fraud—suspects in custody, but money still gone
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A senior couple in Oregon is reeling after losing $33,000 to a contractor who promised but never delivered roof repairs.
The homeowners paid the full amount upfront in March 2024 to Home Renovation Xperts and Roofing Xperts.
The project was supposed to be finished by the end of April, but delays continued into August without explanation. Repeated calls and voicemails to the contractors were never returned.
The couple contacted the police, and detectives uncovered that the deposit had been moved through accounts linked to two individuals.
The names identified were Erol Demetri Suliman and his business partner, Cassidy Pearl Mann. Investigators found that the funds were funneled through Mann's account before being transferred to Suliman. Both individuals had left the state shortly after the transaction.
Mann eventually returned to Washington and was taken into custody by law enforcement last month. She informed police that Suliman was scheduled to return to Oregon on July 7.
Port of Portland Police arrested him at the airport upon arrival. Both suspects were charged with two counts of aggravated theft in the first degree and released pending court appearances.
"It's an easy, easy way to get money that I'm sure that they have done this before," an officer said during the investigation.
"They're definitely a victim of a crime...so they're struggling with that $33,000 loss," added Silverton police officer Sam Willits.
As of now, it remains unclear if the couple will be able to recover their funds. Investigators believe the suspects may have pulled similar scams before leaving Oregon.
Also read: Is your credit card safe? How scammers are mimicking top brands to steal your money
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated case as reports of home repair fraud targeting elderly victims are growing across the US.
In a separate incident, a 71-year-old woman in Texas was scammed out of $64,000 by another roofing contractor.
She was told her roof was unstable, and one of the scammers even jumped on it to falsely prove damage.
The woman paid through six checks and $14,000 in cash, only to be left with an incomplete and poorly done job.
The scam was discovered after a county deputy visited the home and observed no legitimate repairs had been made.
A licensed contractor later confirmed that the job was abandoned with loose tiles and structural issues.
Levy Aaron Lee, the suspect, was arrested and charged with financial abuse of an elderly person. He is being held in Smith County jail on a $350,000 bond.
Many of these schemes share similar warning signs, and homeowners are urged to verify all contractors through state registries.
Also read: A surge in scam calls has Americans on edge—but the real threat may be harder to detect
Red flags include large upfront payments, vague or missing contracts, and contractors who pressure clients into urgent action.
Experts also warn against cash-only deals or individuals who cannot provide valid licenses or business records. As more cases emerge, law enforcement is urging victims to report fraud early to increase chances of recovery.
Read next: 7 sneaky scams draining bank accounts—how to protect yourself now
Have you or someone you know been impacted by a home repair scam? We want to hear from you—share your experience in the comments below to help others recognize the warning signs. Your story could make a difference for another homeowner on the brink of hiring the wrong person. Public awareness remains a key tool in stopping these kinds of crimes before they happen.
The homeowners paid the full amount upfront in March 2024 to Home Renovation Xperts and Roofing Xperts.
The project was supposed to be finished by the end of April, but delays continued into August without explanation. Repeated calls and voicemails to the contractors were never returned.
The couple contacted the police, and detectives uncovered that the deposit had been moved through accounts linked to two individuals.
The names identified were Erol Demetri Suliman and his business partner, Cassidy Pearl Mann. Investigators found that the funds were funneled through Mann's account before being transferred to Suliman. Both individuals had left the state shortly after the transaction.
Mann eventually returned to Washington and was taken into custody by law enforcement last month. She informed police that Suliman was scheduled to return to Oregon on July 7.
Port of Portland Police arrested him at the airport upon arrival. Both suspects were charged with two counts of aggravated theft in the first degree and released pending court appearances.
"It's an easy, easy way to get money that I'm sure that they have done this before," an officer said during the investigation.
"They're definitely a victim of a crime...so they're struggling with that $33,000 loss," added Silverton police officer Sam Willits.
As of now, it remains unclear if the couple will be able to recover their funds. Investigators believe the suspects may have pulled similar scams before leaving Oregon.
Also read: Is your credit card safe? How scammers are mimicking top brands to steal your money
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated case as reports of home repair fraud targeting elderly victims are growing across the US.
In a separate incident, a 71-year-old woman in Texas was scammed out of $64,000 by another roofing contractor.
She was told her roof was unstable, and one of the scammers even jumped on it to falsely prove damage.
The woman paid through six checks and $14,000 in cash, only to be left with an incomplete and poorly done job.
The scam was discovered after a county deputy visited the home and observed no legitimate repairs had been made.
A licensed contractor later confirmed that the job was abandoned with loose tiles and structural issues.
Levy Aaron Lee, the suspect, was arrested and charged with financial abuse of an elderly person. He is being held in Smith County jail on a $350,000 bond.
Many of these schemes share similar warning signs, and homeowners are urged to verify all contractors through state registries.
Also read: A surge in scam calls has Americans on edge—but the real threat may be harder to detect
Red flags include large upfront payments, vague or missing contracts, and contractors who pressure clients into urgent action.
Experts also warn against cash-only deals or individuals who cannot provide valid licenses or business records. As more cases emerge, law enforcement is urging victims to report fraud early to increase chances of recovery.
Read next: 7 sneaky scams draining bank accounts—how to protect yourself now
