ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. -- A Denver7 investigation has the attention of the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office after at least a dozen neighbors in Centennial say they were scammed by the same guy and more victims are coming forward to share their stories.
"He was so convincing, he was going to do it and he took the money real quick and then just nothing after," said Jackie Zimmerman, another victim who says she was ripped off by Jarhead Landscaping.
Zimmerman lives in Adams County and said they paid owner Howard Norman $7,000 for materials to build their deck and pergola back in August.
Four months later, all they have to show for it is the framing -- which she described as an eyesore and safety hazard.
"You can't even go out the backdoor to go to the backyard because it's like going over an obstacle course," Zimmerman said. "I have great grandkids … and I'm afraid he's gonna hurt himself trying to out there."
"I think he's a very systematic con artist," Robin Dickerhoof, another one of Norman's victims in Centennial, said. "Total deposits he's collected is upwards of $20,000."
In response, the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office posted a note on NextDoor encouraging victims to come forward and deputies confirmed to Denver7 they are now investigating Norman for theft.
"Glad that they are investigating and I hope they find him," Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman said they trusted Norman because their daughter knew his wife, but even that didn't stop him.
"It's gone as far as blaming it on Home Depot saying they wouldn't deliver cause the roads were too bad," she explained.
Excuse after excuse, she said Norman has gone silent -- just like in Centennial.
"He has to be stopped because who knows who he's gonna do this to next," she said.
Denver7 went to Norman's business address in Centennial and found a red United States Marine Corps flag hanging outside. His wife answered the door and said she had not seen Norman in a week.
Court records going back to 1994 indicate Norman has a long history of theft in several states including Washington, Oregon and New Mexico.
Have you been a victim of Jarhead Landscaping? Denver7 reporter Jennifer Kovaleski would like to hear from you. You can also each out to her on Twitter (@JennKovaleski) or Facebook.
