Watch CBS News

Chad Faubus Didn't Pay Contractors For Work, Instead Threatened Them With ICE Reports

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4)- A Boulder man who didn't pay contractors for work they did on his home but instead threatened to report them to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had been ordered to pay more than $23,000 in restitution. Chad Faubus was arrested last year on charges relating to theft, fraud and criminal extortion and was recently sentenced to four years of probation in addition to the required restitution.

BOULDER CONTRACTOR 10PKG_frame_990
Chad Faubus (credit: Boulder County)

CBS4 spoke with one of the contractors scammed by Faubus, who asked not to be identified.

"I made probably 15 or 20 trips to his house," he said.

BOULDER CONTRACTOR 10PKG_frame_0
(credit: CBS)

He and his employees, and two other contractors, spent long hours working on different landscaping and electrical jobs at the home.

He says they were depending on the money that was supposed to come from that work and it never came.

"I have some health issues and it came down to, you know, are you going to make your mortgage payment or are you going to buy your medicine?" he said.

BOULDER CONTRACTOR 10PKG_frame_450
(credit: CBS)

Instead, Faubus wrote bad checks to him and others he had hired. When they threatened to go to police, Faubus told them he was going to report them to ICE.

"They were worried that we are going to get expelled from the country, without the help of guys like this, we would be in a world of hurt," he said.

BOULDER CONTRACTOR 10PKG_frame_510
(credit: CBS)

Those contractors did go to police. The investigation found 10 victims with more than $20,000 owed.

Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty issued a warrant for Faubus.

Michael Dougherty  BOULDER CONTRACTOR 10PKG_frame_2020
Michael Dougherty (credit: CBS)

"That's taking advantage of some of the most vulnerable by threatening their very presence in this country in order to steal from them and keep that scam going," Dougherty said.

Now Faubus will have to pay up, but for those he owes, with everything riding on that business, it's too little, too late.

BOULDER CONTRACTOR 10PKG_frame_1692
CBS4's Karen Morfitt interviews Michael Dougherty (credit: CBS)

"When you're as small as I am, it's survival."

According to the DA, Faubus showed up to his sentencing hearing with a check for $20,000, only part of what he owes. If he fails to fulfill any of his sentencing requirements he could go to prison for one to three years.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.