WHEATON, Md. - One man has been arrested and another man is wanted for a home improvement scam in Montgomery County (web | news) dating back to 2006.

Police say 25-year-old Mario Ramirez-Cadenas and 39-year-old Leslie Alberto Irias posed as licensed home improvement contractors in a scheme in Northern Virginia and Maryland. On June 25, 2007 police responded to Wheaton woman's fraud complaint. Police said the victim reported she'd entered a fraudulent contract with Ramirez and Irias to tear down and build a new house for her in 2006. She paid them $90,000 as a down payment but police say they never began construction and stopped communicating with the victim. The victim and her daughter began investigating and found other people in the area had been victimized by the same men.

According to police, further investigation showed that the suspects had performed the same type of fraud scheme at least three times in Northern Virginia, Germantown, Wheaton, Sandy Spring, and Silver Spring. Police say the suspects are responsible for defrauding these victims in excess of $500,000.

Last week, Ramirez was arrested for domestic violence in Wichita, Kansas and authorities discovered the fraud warrant that Montgomery County Police had obtained on July 24, 2007. Ramirez is being held without bond.

Irias' current whereabouts are unknown and The MCP Financial Crimes Section would like to hear from anyone who may know where he is. You can call 240-773-6330. Callers may remain anonymous.

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