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Contractor Scams Homeowners Out of Thousands
17 Jun
Summary
- Contractor faces felony theft charges in Iowa and Minnesota.
- Allegedly took $26,500 from Adams homeowners without starting work.
- Licensed status in Iowa and Minnesota was found to be non-existent.
Vincent Lee Chmielewski, 49, of Clear Lake, Iowa, has been charged with two counts of felony theft-by-swindle in Mower County District Court. He is accused of collecting $26,500 from two Adams, Minnesota homeowners in the summer of 2023 for roofing projects but failing to deliver any services. Chmielewski allegedly requested and received payment upfront, promising to order materials and return, but never did.
Further investigation by Mower County law enforcement in September 2025 revealed that Chmielewski held no valid contractor's license in Iowa or Minnesota during 2023 and 2024. Despite initial claims of wanting to resolve the issues, he could not produce invoices for the Adams jobs. Chmielewski also faces a separate first-degree theft charge in Winnebago County, Iowa, dating to January 2026, and additional felony theft-by-swindle charges in Mower County from 2025.
