Attorney General's News Release

January 22, 2007

St. Louis home repair salesman who defrauded customers pleads guilty, to pay $72,033 in restitution

Clayton, Mo. — A former resident of St. Louis who took payment to install siding to homes but then performed shoddy, incomplete or no work pled guilty to four felony counts of unlawful merchandising practices on Jan. 18 in St. Louis County Circuit Court and was placed on five years probation and ordered to pay $72,033 in restitution. The office of Attorney General Jay Nixon prosecuted the case against Christopher Branton, who did business as St. Louis Exteriors.

Nixon says Branton and co-defendant Nicholas Dalba defrauded 49 consumers in their spray-on siding business between Nov. 2002 and October 2003, which prompted complaints to the Attorney General's office and an investigation. Both defendants relocated to Georgia, and were extradited back to Missouri after Nixon's office obtained grand jury felony indictments against both. Branton has been held in the St. Louis County Jail since returning to Missouri 45 days ago.

Dalba previously pled guilty to four counts of unlawful merchandising practices and was ordered to pay the same amount of restitution as Branton. To date, Dalba has paid more than $35,000.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818