SERIAL SCAMMING CONTRACTOR CONTINUING TO PREY ON ELDERLY RESIDENTS INDICTED FOR THEFT

Posted on 9/1/2016

Defendant: Donald W. Loper, III

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “This serial thief has demonstrated time and time again that he has a complete disregard for following the law and that he has absolutely no compassion for the elderly victims he leaves behind.”  Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned a ten count indictment against Donald W. Loper, III, age 38, for multiple counts of Theft and Theft From a Person in a Protected Class.  Loper takes cash upfront from his victims promising to do miscellaneous work for them, such as winter long snow removal or resurfacing driveways, and he never goes back to do the work.  In this new indictment (16CR4787), there were ten victims ranging in age from 64 to 95, and the total monetary loss to the victims was approximately $14,500.

            Loper has a pending case, set for today, September 1st (16CR3474) where he scammed two victims, ages 73 and 82 out of approximately $779.

            On April 25th, 2016 Loper plead guilty to multiple counts of Theft and Theft From a Person in a Protected Class, in addition to one count of Failure to Appear, in four cases (15CR3068, 15CR3914. 15CR4868, and 15CR5445) where there were 6 victims ranging in age from 64 to 85 and total monetary loss to the victims was approximately $9,550.  Those cases are set for sentencing today, September 1st, 2016.

            “If you believe you are a victim of this serial thief, please contact your local law enforcement agency and report the crime,” O’Brien stated.  Arraignment for Loper in this new indictment is set for this Friday, September 2nd, at 1:30 pm in courtroom 2B in 345 S. High Street in downtown Columbus.