Unlicensed Contractor Who Told Customers He Was Licensed Is Banned From Minnesota Construction For Good And Hit With A $1.1 Million Judgment After Faking A Supplier Invoice

He told customers he was a licensed contractor. He was not, and the state had already ordered him to stop saying so. Now a Minnesota man is barred from the state’s residential construction industry for good.

A contractor in a hard hat and safety gear working on a wooden structure at a construction site.

On November 5, 2026, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office announced that Attorney General Keith Ellison secured a judgment against contractor Ryan David Pietron and his company, Affordable Home Remodeling, LLC. The judgment permanently bans both from residential construction in Minnesota.

It also comes with a heavy price tag, about $1.1 million in total.

$518,000 In Restitution, $518,000 In Penalties, $33,000 In Fees

Here is how the money breaks down, according to the Attorney General’s office. Pietron and the company must pay $518,000 in restitution to victims, $518,000 in civil penalties to the State of Minnesota, and $33,000 for the office’s costs and attorney’s fees.

Added up, that is about $1.07 million, which rounds to the $1.1 million figure in the announcement.

The restitution figure matches what the office says families lost. The Attorney General located dozens of Minnesota families who lost a combined $518,000.

He Was Never Licensed And Told Customers He Was Anyway

According to the office, Pietron was never licensed. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry had already banned him from claiming to be licensed, but he told customers that he was anyway.

The office says he deceived homeowners into hiring him for expensive renovations. Customers paid tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars for work that never happened.

The state sued Pietron and his company in October 2025.

A Forged Supplier Invoice Claimed An Order Was Placed

The scheme did not stop at a handshake and a deposit. The Attorney General says Pietron sent customers fake progress updates to keep them calm.

In one case, he forged an invoice from a real supplier, claiming that an order for materials had been placed when it had not. To a homeowner watching the calendar, that piece of paper looked like proof that the job was moving.

The office says he then did token demolition work, or none at all, and disappeared with the customers’ money.

Refund Promises That Never Came

Some victims did not let it go. They tracked him down and were promised refunds, according to the Attorney General. Those refunds never came.

Ellison said, “Pietron played fast and loose with people’s home renovation dreams and needs.” He added, “He counted on people giving up and moving on.”

The Attorney General’s message to other victims was direct. “So to anyone who’s been ripped off by a contractor: don’t stay quiet,” he said.

A Felony Theft Guilty Plea In Wright County

The civil judgment is not the only consequence. Pietron separately pleaded guilty to felony theft for some of the same conduct, in a case brought by the Wright County Attorney’s Office.

The Attorney General’s announcement notes that this case was filed alongside a nearly identical scheme by Earl Christian Rode, IV, and his company, High Road Builders, LLC. In January 2026, the office won a $2.6 million judgment against Rode, made up of $1.3 million in restitution and $1.3 million in civil penalties, plus a permanent industry ban.

How To Check A Contractor Before You Hand Over A Dime

The Attorney General’s office offers several tips that make sense for homeowners anywhere. Check online for information about the contractor and the company. Get everything from the contractor in writing. Read all documents carefully before you sign.

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry licenses residential building contractors and offers a free contractor license look-up tool. Licensed contractors must carry liability and property damage insurance. Most specialty contractors who perform only one specialty skill do not need a license.

The Department also publishes a Consumer’s Guide to Hiring a Residential Building Contractor, which you can read before signing a contract. The Attorney General’s own guide, Home Building and Remodeling, covers choosing a contractor, avoiding scams and knowing your rights.

Know Your Safety Net And Where To Report Fraud

If a licensed contractor commits fraud or dishonest practices and cannot pay a judgment against them, the Department’s Contractor Recovery Fund can pay up to $75,000 of that judgment. The fund applies to licensed contractors, which is one more reason to confirm a license before you hire.

If you believe you have been defrauded, you can file a complaint online with the Attorney General’s office or call (651) 296-3353 in the Twin Cities metro area, or 1-800-657-3787 in Greater Minnesota. The Minnesota Relay line is 1-800-627-3529.

Smart Habits For Any Remodel, In Any State

Even if you do not live in Minnesota, the lessons carry over. Ask for the license number and look it up with your state’s licensing board yourself, rather than trusting a card or a magnet on a truck.

Be careful with large upfront deposits. Tie payments to finished stages of work, and walk the site before you pay each installment. If a supplier invoice is shown to you as proof that materials were ordered, you can ask for the supplier’s contact details and confirm the order directly.

Keep copies of every contract, text message and receipt. If something goes wrong, those records are the backbone of any complaint.

The case against Pietron shows what can happen when homeowners speak up. The Attorney General’s office says it found dozens of families, secured a judgment, and put a permanent bar in place. If a contractor takes your money and vanishes, report it quickly, because that is exactly how these cases begin.

Willow and Hearth