St. Cloud Contractor Accused of Defrauding Homeowners Out of Nearly $400,000

(KNSI) – A St. Cloud man is being sued by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from Minnesota homeowners for renovation projects that were never finished — or never started.

According to the complaint, Affordable Home Remodeling and its owner, Ryan Pietron, collected large upfront payments, claiming the money was needed for materials or subcontractors, but then failed to deliver the promised work. In many cases, homeowners were left with torn-up kitchens, damaged homes, or incomplete remodels. Pietron also lied about being a licensed contractor, even after the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry issued a five year ban preventing him from operating or applying for a residential contractor license.

In one case, a woman who had waited nearly a year for work to start on her kitchen asked for an update while she was out of town. Pietron told her a crew was working at her house, but her home security cameras showed no one had ever shown up. She said he later offered a string of false excuses, including “broken-down trucks,” before abandoning the job entirely and keeping her money.

In another case, a homeowner asked for proof that materials had been purchased after months of delays. Pietron allegedly sent what appeared to be an invoice, but when the customer called the supplier, they learned the document was fake. Pietron is accused of keeping $30,000 and never starting the project.

The state estimates that homeowners lost nearly $400,000, and because the business was unlicensed, victims can’t recover money through Minnesota’s Contractor Recovery Fund.

The lawsuit seeks restitution for consumers, civil penalties, and a permanent ban on the company’s deceptive business practices.

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