4OYS: Plumber now faces 16 charges of fraud

Updated: 07/28/2014 10:20 PM | Created: 07/28/2014 10:00 PM By: Chris Ramirez, 4 On Your Side

More than a dozen new charges of fraud have been brought against a plumber that was shown attempting to pull a fast one on a 4OYS producer last February.

John Montano faces 16 different charges of fraud after customers claim his company Superior Plumbing was paid for work that never started.

The number of cases spiked after Montano's scheme was uncovered on KOB Eyewitness News 4 last year, Bernalillo County Sheriff's detective Russell Telles said.

"Pretty much with him what makes this a criminal case is simply he went and offered services, people paid him and for the most part, nothing was done," he said.

Montano has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

"I've never ripped anybody off," he told 4OYS last February. "We've always done the repairs."

In response to a question about the allegations made by his former customers, Montano blamed issues with his ex-wife.

However he did not go into detail as he shunned away the 4OYS cameras.

Now, he faces indictments in two different counties and possible time in state prison.

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4OYS: Plumber now faces 16 charges of fraud