‘I never saw him again:’ Houston-area contractor wanted in four counties accused of defrauding homeowners

PASADENA, TX – A Houston-area contractor is accused of scamming home repair customers in four different counties, some of which were victims of natural disasters, court records show.

Eusebio Maldonado, 51, has open arrest warrants in Texas and Louisiana, according to charging documents.

Maldonado’s alleged scheme dates back to 2019 and continued at least until the end of last year.

“I needed my roof replaced because of the tornadoes and hail damage,” said Maria Iris Yanez, a single mother who lives in Pasadena.

After last year’s tornado, she hired Maldonado for repairs. He would solicit her parents to work at home, she said, and when she needed one, her father referred her to Maldonado.

According to court records, she paid him $3,500 for permits, equipment and work that still hasn’t been done. The total project is expected to cost about $8,500, she said.

“It’s really sickening that he can take advantage of people like this,” Yanez said.

Maldonado gave her numerous excuses as to why the work wasn’t getting done, she said.

“He kept saying it was raining and he couldn’t find any guys to work, then something about his family member died, then he said he was in Mexico,” she declared.

In 2019, Maldonado was accused of stealing $5,000 from a victim in Galveston County, records show. Then, in 2020, he allegedly targeted hurricane victims in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. And in 2021, he allegedly pocketed $13,000 from a Chambers County couple.

“The only time we saw him here was when he was collecting the money. We never saw him again,” said Melissa Salas, who hired Maldonado for a deck project at her Chambers County home.

Maldonado was recommended by her husband’s friend, she said. They had also seen photos of his past work, but after receiving money upfront, he stopped showing up.

“He never delivered,” she said. “We trusted this man with our money, with our savings, and he walked away like nothing happened,” Salas said.

He also gave them numerous excuses and never had the materials delivered for the project that would have ended up costing $23,000, she said. Their trust was broken and they eventually hired someone else to do the job.

“He deserves some kind of punishment,” she said. “It’s not fair that people trust him and he steals their money and leaves“.

Pasadena police told KPRC 2 that Maldonado was likely still operating in the Houston area and there could be other victims. Police are asking for information relevant to this case.

Yanez still hasn’t been able to make much-needed repairs to her home.

“Next time I’ll really do my research,” Yanez said. “I don’t know how he can sleep.”

BBB Tips to Protect You

According to the Better Business Bureau, it should be a red flag when a contractor asks for more than a third of the total project cost up front to purchase materials.

“A legitimate contractor will have the funds to purchase the necessary materials until the job is completed, and then you will pay the rest,” said Carolina Petriciolet of the Better Business Bureau.

• Don’t rush to hire someone

• Obtain a contract and quote showing the cost of labor and materials.

• Get referrals

• Make sure you have an accurate phone number and address for the contractor.

• Be careful when paying with an app like Zelle or Venmo, because it can be difficult to find them later if they no longer show up.

• Be wary of someone going door to door soliciting business

Petriciolet said any legitimate contractor would accept payment in various forms, such as a credit card, debit card or check.

If you are being scammed by a contractor, you are encouraged to file a complaint with the BBB and contact local law enforcement. If you’re paying with a credit card, Petriciolet said you can also contact your bank to try to stop the payment.