A Toronto contractor who accepted money from customers but didn’t complete many projects pleaded guilty to 11 charges under Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act.
Adam Gardin, who ran a company called GarCon Building Group, admitted he “engaged in an unfair practice.”
Gardin now lives in Michigan, but returned to a court in Toronto on Monday to be arraigned on the charges, which may include a jail sentence and a restitution order.
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Customers came forward in 2014 after Gardin accepted money for work that was booked but not finished.
Karim Hajee hired Gardin to convert a bungalow into a two-storey residence for his wife and four children. Hajee says his losses to Gardin could amount to $250,000.
“I just hope justice is served,” Hajee told Global News after being informed Gardin had pleaded guilty. Hajee had been scheduled to testify at Gardin’s trial, which was cancelled as a result of the plea.
In 2015, when confronted by Global News about allegations, Gardin proclaimed innocence.
“It’s not like I have a wad of money,” he said when asked what became of all the money he accepted from clients.
“If I was a thief, if I was defrauding somebody, I’d be on the next plane to Vegas.” In a civil lawsuit against Gardin, brought by several customers and settled out of court, documents showed Gardin had paid almost $100,000 to two Ontario casinos in Niagara Falls and Windsor.
Gardin will be sentenced in August.
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