Contractor apprehended for fraudulent home improvement and theft

Recently, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office apprehended an Evansville contractor on several charges of theft and fraud after an inquiry into a report of Home Improvement Fraud. The investigation began in late February 2025 when a Vanderburgh County resident complained that a contractor she had engaged to construct a room addition to her home had been remunerated tens of thousands of dollars for deficient, code-violating work left unfinished after prolonged delays.

She contracted Eric N. Morgan and his business, Eric Morgan DBA Rugged Construction, in October 2023 to build the addition, initially paying a $25,000 down payment. The expansion was meant to accommodate her ailing mother to receive care while living with the family. Following multiple delays, construction eventually commenced on February 1, 2024. The victim disbursed a total of $152,619.72 to Morgan’s company over time.

Upon realizing Morgan had no intention of honoring the contract, the victim discovered that the kitchen cabinets had not been ordered, and an HVAC company had not been paid for services, resulting in a lien being placed on her property. Eric Morgan DBA Rugged Construction had no contractor’s license, insurance, or bond filed with the Vanderburgh County Building Commission, no building permit for the project obtained, and no inspections conducted. Consequently, significant portion of the work carried out might need to be dismantled and redone.

It was revealed during the investigation that a permit for a room addition had been submitted under another individual’s name, who denied applying for the permit and claimed their personal information was used without their consent. Moreover, Rugged Construction’s construction contract failed to meet legal prerequisites under Indiana law due to lacking proper licensing or bonding, rendering the company unauthorized to enter into contracts or accept payments for construction services in Vanderburgh County.

For resolution, the Vanderburgh County Building Commission is collaborating with the victim to rectify the project, obtain necessary permits, and bring the structure up to code, a process that will require extensive time, effort, and financial resources. Eric Morgan was apprehended at his residence and brought into custody without resistance, thereafter transported to the Vanderburgh County Jail, where he is detained on a $5,000 bond pending court proceedings.

Morgan is currently out on bond concerning another Home Improvement Fraud case probed by the Sheriff’s Office and is being investigated by additional agencies for similar infractions. In 2017, he was convicted in federal court of Securities Fraud linked to an investment scheme causing approximately $650,000 in losses. Charges against Eric Nicholas Morgan, 41, of Evansville include one count of Level 5 Felony Theft and Fraud as well as five counts each of Level 6 Felony Theft and Fraud. The Presumption of Innocence Notice was highlighted, emphasizing that an arrest or charge is just an allegation until proven guilty in court.