'American Shingle' Under Investigation After Customers Left Hanging

ARREST MADE--INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

In an update to an investigation News Channel 7 broke during the summer of 2010, the CEO of American Shingle, was arrested earlier this month in Georgia.

Carlton Dunko turned himself in, in Macon, Ga., on charges of theft by conversion.

Warrants were issued against Dunko and two other executives of the now-bankrupt company.

The warrants come on the heels of hundreds of complaints across the southeast, from those who say they paid the company for roofing work but never had it done, only to see their money dissapear.

American Shingle filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy this past fall.

Dunko has since been released, as the investigation into his business continues, by local authorities and the Secret Service.

EMPLOYEE CLAIMS HE WAS TOLD TO LIE TO CUSTOMERS 

He says they told him to lie.

A former employee of a popular roofing company--now the target of hundreds of consumer complaints in the Upstate; says bosses told him and others to mislead customers about how dire the company's financial situation was.

News Channel 7 first broke the story of a regional roofing company, with outposts all over the southeast, including South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina, that promised work to consumers with storm damage, took their money, and did not complete the work, or return the cash.

The Upstate chapter of the Better Business Bureau says they have logged probably "hundreds" of complaints against the company from Upstate consumers.

Many former employees also say, they have not been paid. But thats only the beginning.

"American shingle was telling us to lie to customers."

Ex-employee Lamar McAlister claims as the popular roofing company was drowning in debt and innocent customers and their insurance companies continued to fork over money--his supervisors at American Shingle told employees:

"Tell the customers--'hey--were running into supply demand--our vendors aren't delivering'. Come to find out, it wasn't the vendors--it was our company."

McAlister left the company when he was told earlier this month, to collect his supplies from the Greenville office, because they were "closing shop", according to a supervisor.

This was while customers across the southeast were told by voicemail at the company's headquarters, that American Shingle was simply "moving".

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

We've also learned, "American Shingle", is now under criminal investigation, by local police agencies, including locally, the Greenville County Sheriffs Office.

"American Shingle" had an office on Pelham Road in Greenville. However, for more than a week, consumers had not been able to locate employees, or get through to the company by phone.

Consumer Affairs departments in Georgia and North Carolina have launched investigations into the company. We are awaiting word on if and when the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, LLR and the Attorney General launch investigations of their own.

Also, in at least one city effected, Memphis TN, the US Secret Service confirms to News Channel 7, they are assisting local police there, to see if federal fraud charges need to be made against the company.

Local offices of the Secret Service will get involved should the case become federal.

The Better Business Bureau is also looking into, but cannot yet confirm, that the company may be operating under numerous names, as they navigate bankruptsy. 

The CEO, Carlton DeWayne Dunko, who lives in Florida, has not returned our calls for comment.

He told our CBS affiliate in Memphis, the company is $2 million dollars in the red, and a letter is being sent to customers explaining the financial situation, but not explaining how or if they will get their money back.

We will continue to call Dunko until he answers our questions.

ORIGINAL STORY

A popular roofing company who took money from the victims of recent storms, and promised work, has apparently disappeared, according to customers.

American Shingle is a roofing company with nearly two dozen locations operating throughout the southeast, including a branch in Greenville.

Seven On Your Side heard from a number of customers who say they paid the company money to do roofing work and now no one from American Shingle can be found.

We also talked to employees off camera who say they have not been paid, and were told yesterday the company was closing shop.

Customers like Sue Drummond of Greenville, who paid the company nearly 5-thousand dollars back in March after a hail storm, are left not knowing what to do.

"I'm probably {never going} to see that money again, unless I get my attorney involved," she said.

We called the company's Greenville office---their Atlanta headquarters---and their other nearly two dozen offices, and you encounter the same recorded message, which says they are "moving".

We made every attempt to locate the company for comment, but were unable to. There is nothing on the company's website or their phone messages to allow anyone to contact them and get a response.

Complaints have been filed against the company all over the southeast and the North Carolina Attorney General has opened an investigation into the company following complaints in that state.

Labor License and Regulation (LLR) in Columbia tells us they are now looking into this.

Also, we found the Upstate chapter of the Better Business Bureau gives the company an "F" rating, with 76 complaints filed against the company over the past 36 months. Most of the BBB's in the regions the company had offices, give them failing grades due to multiple complaints.

If you were a victim, you can log on to the websites for the South and North Carolina Attorney Generals, and submit a consumer complaint.

For North Carolina:

http://ncdoj.gov/Consumer.aspx

For South Carolina:

http://www.scattorneygeneral.org/ag/contact.html