Warrant Issued In Home Repair Fraud Case

KANE COUNTY, IL — A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a 39-year-old man accused of swindling $3,000 from an Algonquin resident in a home repair fraud case, prosecutors said. Michael P. Geary, formerly of Hoffman Estates, is charged with aggravated home repair fraud in connection with the October 2018 agreement between Geary and the Algonquin resident.

The resident, who is older then 60 years old, paid Geary "an advance" of $3,000 for the materials he purportedly needed for the project. Several months later, Geary allegedly had not started on work at the home, and the resident asked for a refund, according to a news release.

In early 2019, Geary, of the 6500 block of Rose Ellen Avenue, Portage, Indiana, told the resident he'd refund the money but never did, prosecutors said.

A Kane County judge Thursday signed a warrant for Geary's arrest. His bail has been set at $50,000, and a court appearance will be determined once he is in custody, according to authorities.