PHOENIX — A man posing as a contractor has been indicted on 19 felony charges after defrauding Arizona homeowners out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Steve Venegas, a convicted felon, is accused of taking large payments for backyard renovation projects that were never completed—and often never even started. Among his victims is Steve Duggins, who paid Venegas over $47,000 and was left with a backyard in ruins.
“In this case, this individual made some really bad choices,” Duggins told On Your Side. “They were premeditated. He knew what he was doing. So at this point, any compassion that I might have had or empathy towards him is gone.”
Another homeowner, Nicole Fuhrman, shared a mugshot of Venegas while calling him “a conman who is hiding something and taking from others.”
After multiple On Your Side reports and an in-depth investigation by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced that a grand jury has indicted Venegas. Charges include Fraudulent Schemes, Illegal Control of an Enterprise, and multiple counts of Theft.
Ironically, while reportedly defrauding clients, Venegas often posted Bible verses on his Facebook page. Duggins remarked, “If he goes back to prison, well, maybe that’s just where he belongs.”
Though Venegas once claimed in phone interviews that he would return the stolen money, he never followed through. When reporters visited his home, no one answered the door, but his wife later called to demand they stop “harassing” him.
According to investigators, Venegas may have taken more than $400,000 from homeowners. The exact whereabouts of the money remain unknown.
Still, victims like Duggins are relieved to see justice taking shape. “I’m so glad for you Gary [Harper], and your team and Channel 3 for exposing this guy and helping to get him behind bars.”
Steve Venegas remains in jail, unable to post bond.
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