Cole Co. builder accused of scamming customers now indicted
A Cole County builder accused of taking money from customers and not completing construction work has now been indicted by a Cole Co. grand jury.
ABC 17 News first reported on Ken Jenson last year after customers contacted our newsroom saying he charged them thousands of dollars for construction work that was never done.
Jinson was arrested last spring after former ABC 17 News reporter Jillian Fertig confronted him.
ABC 17 News found multiple lawsuits out against Jinson.
On Friday, Attorney General Chris Koster said Jinson is indicted for multiple counts of stealing by deceit and deceptive business practices.
Koster said he has joined Cole Co. Prosecutor Mark Richardson in going after Jinson for defrauding Cole Co. customers.
The attorney general said Jinson required partial or full payment in advance for materials and labor, and advertised his services on social media.
The indictment said Jinson took money from a couple to build a storage shed in 2014, and lied to them when he said he would either finish the work or refund their money.
ABC 17 News talked to one of the customers named in the indictment more than once.
Douglas Bledsoe said in March 2015 he paid Jinson up front to construct a woodworking shop and remodel his basement, but the work was never completed by Jinson.
The total loss is more than $22,000 from four customers.
Anyone who believes they have been a victim of Jinson can file a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office at ago.mo.gov, or call 800-392-8222.
