Missouri contractor receives probation, pleaded guilty to charges related to deceptive business practices in November

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An area contractor who pleaded guilty in November to several charges involving deceptive business practices was sentenced to probation on Monday.

Blake Mahoney, 29, pleaded guilty to stealing $25,000 or more on Nov. 28. He received a suspended sentence of eight years in the Missouri Department of Corrections with five years of supervised probation.

For the charge of financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person, he had a suspended sentence of seven years. His deceptive business practice charge included a four-year suspended sentence. He also pleaded guilty to three counts of passing a bad check and received a four-year suspended sentence.

Mahoney was arrested and charged in Boone County in January 2022 with four felony counts of financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person, according to public court records. Mahoney was also charged with seven felony counts of deceptive business practice.

Public court records show the alleged crimes happened between August 2018- March 2021.

Mahoney operated Mo State Construction LLC, according to the Better Business Bureau. A spokeswoman said at the time that several Columbia-area customers reported issues with the business, including failing to start or finish projects. The Better Business Bureau issued a consumer warning about doing business with Mahoney in February 2021.