A Wichita man who lied about being a licensed contractor and took money from homeowners for projects he never finished was sentenced to 85 months in prison on Aug. 22, the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office announced.

Chad E. Smith, 55, must also pay more than $500,000 in restitution to his victims and serve 24 months of post-release supervision, according to the Wichita Eagle.

Sedgwick County District Judge Chrystal Krier handed down the sentence after Smith pleaded guilty in April to 25 counts, including theft, forgery, deceptive commercial practices, a charge of making false information and mistreatment of an elder person. The crimes occurred in 2023 and 2024, court records show.

The DA's Office said Smith promised to complete construction and home remodeling projects, then failed to finish or even begin the work. He falsely represented himself as a licensed general contractor to win business from multiple victims.

Some victims told the Wichita Eagle they were forced to drain retirement accounts or take out loans to hire other contractors to finish what Smith left undone.

One west Wichita family paid Smith $75,000 for a home remodel that was supposed to take 90 days. Two years later, the work still wasn't done. Smith had stopped responding to them. A storage container sat in their driveway for a year.

Smith's defense attorney argued in a court filing that prison would make it impossible for Smith to repay victims. "If the Defendant is granted probation, then he can work and do his best to pay back the victims," the filing stated.

Judge Krier rejected that argument. A note in Smith's court file indicates he could be considered for work release.

This was not Smith's first conviction. He previously served time for thefts in Johnson and Shawnee counties, according to the DA's Office in a statement reported by KWCH.

How to protect yourself

The DA's Office used the sentencing to remind residents that contractors for many residential projects in Sedgwick County must be licensed by the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department. Work may also require permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy.

Roofers must register with the Kansas Attorney General's Office. The DA's Office urged residents to ask any contractor for a copy of their license and proof of business insurance before hiring.

The MABCD can be reached at 271 W. 3rd St. N., Wichita, KS 67202, or by phone at (316) 660-1840.