Eden Praire Contractor Found Guilty of Theft by Swindle

Eden Praire Contractor Found Guilty of Theft by Swindle Photo: KSTP/File

March 07, 2018 05:13 PM

An Eden Prairie contractor was convicted Tuesday after authorities claim he bilked a large number of customers through a sophisticated scheme.

A jury found 51-year-old Daniel Baker of Lakeville guilty of two counts of theft by swindle over $35,000 and one count of nonpayment for improvement Tuesday, according to a release from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.

The Eden Prairie Police Department began receiving calls from in 2014 and 2015 regarding work that had not been done. The county attorney said customers would enter agreements with Baker and provide a down payment.

Because work was not being finished, the homeowners had to place liens on their home because Baker was not paying subcontractors.

The county attorney's office said Baker's customers were forced to hire different contractors.

It was later learned that Baker was using down payments from new jobs to pay for older jobs. A number of victims testified during the two day trial, saying they suffered "significant and lasting financial problems."

Baker is expected to be sentenced May 11.