Pittsfield Man Indicted on 48 Counts in Alleged Steel Building Scam
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fred Senter, 40, is accused of contracting and accepting down payments from more than 40 victims to build steel structures with no intent to complete the work as owner of Northern Steel Building and Structure, LLC.
Senter allegedly stole more than $400,000 through false pretenses, and Senter allegedly operated the scam in five states between February 2020 and September 2021.
Berkshire Superior Court Court arraigned him on Thursday. Judge Maureen Hogan ordered him detained on $25,000 bail.
According to the DIstrict Attorny's office, the State Police Detective Unit and the Pittsfield Police Department opened investigations into Senter after victims began reporting that Senter accepted their money and ultimately stopped communication, never building the structure.
In February 2020, Senter allegedly signed a contract and accepted $52,967.50 from the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department to construct a new steel building. Senter allegedly provided the Department blueprints and trusses for the project but never completed the work and never refunded the deposit.
Pittsfield Police and Massachusetts State Police then identified private individuals with similar stories throughout Berkshire County and eventually from private residents outside of the county and state. Law Enforcement secured Senter's bank records, identified additional potential victims, and ultimately identified a contractor in Pennsylvania who Senter allegedly scammed into facilitating contracts on his behalf.
The State Police later identified and interviewed potential victims in New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, all of which reported similar stories of contracting with Senter and Senter later cutting off communication. Police in Acushnet, Bedford, Dalton, Hinsdale, Huntington, Lee, Ludlow, Tweksbury, Gilmanton, N.H., New Durham, N.H., and Columbia County N.Y. Sheriff and the Washington County P.A. Sheriff's Offices assisted in the investigation.
The Grand Jury returned indictments on 30 counts of larceny over $1,200, 12 counts of larceny over $1,200 from a persons over the age of 60, four counts of larceny under $1,200, and single counts of operating as an unlicensed home improvement contractor and common and notorious thief. Berkshire Superior Court scheduled an arraignment for May 31.
Most of the victims are private citizens and include three businesses, a different volunteer fire department, and a church. Some of the victims reported to law enforcement that Senter provided explanations for delays such as material and labor shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic but ultimately stopped communicating entirely. Many of the victims also reported spending additional money to prepare sites for Senter to build at Senter's direction.
Senter dissolved the business in June 2021 but allegedly continued to collect deposits. The State Police Detective Unit continues to investigate any potential partners and is searching for additional victims.
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