(KNSI) — The State of Minnesota announced a settlement Tuesday requiring an asphalt company that defrauded consumers to dissolve and pay $100,000 for victim restitution.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sued Brandon Michael Ferguson and his business, Community Blacktop LLC, for targeting consumers, particularly elderly consumers, and making false promises of discounted, high-quality asphalt work. The suit says the company delivered subpar results and then demanded payment with inflated prices far beyond what was quoted.
Ellison says Ferguson also operated the business under several names, including C. Blacktop LLC, Community Construction, LLC, Frontier Construction, and MVP Valued Paving & Engineering.
Ferguson reportedly lured customers by claiming he had leftover asphalt from nearby projects, sometimes falsely stating he had worked on state highways despite the Minnesota Department of Transportation having no record of his involvement. Victims were quoted low prices but later received exorbitant bills. For instance, a Little Falls resident was quoted $2,000 to $3,000 for driveway work but was later charged $17,000. Another customer, quoted $320 for a small parking area, was shocked to receive an $8,000 bill after Ferguson paved their entire driveway.
In a consent judgment, Ferguson admitted to fraudulently obtaining customer consent and violating multiple Minnesota consumer protection laws. The Attorney General’s Office collaborated with law enforcement agencies in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan to hold him accountable.
Because Ferguson’s poor recordkeeping complicates identifying victims, Attorney General Ellison urges those affected to come forward. “If you were scammed by this business, check your files and reach out to us,” he said.
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