Ankeny contractor sentenced to prison after gambling away customers’ money

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Ankeny contractor sentenced to prison after gambling away customers' money. Large white modern farmhouse-style home with black metal roof, symmetrical windows, landscaped front yard, and stone walkway at dusk.

An Ankeny contractor who admitted to blowing customer money on “gambling” and “irresponsible spending” was sentenced on December 18, 2025, to a few years in federal jail. In keeping with court records, he was punished for mendacity throughout chapter proceedings.

Louis Grant Peterson, who additionally glided by “Chip Peterson,” is 61 and previously owned Legacy Siding and Home windows, an exterior development firm primarily based in Ankeny. Prosecutors say Peterson collected a whole bunch of 1000’s of {dollars} in deposits from clients for home improvement projects he never finished. He later informed the FBI that he spent a lot of that cash on playing and different private bills.

Ankeny Man Sentenced to Three Years’ Imprisonment for Chapter Fraud https://t.co/ddb1hfUE7S

— US Legal professional Workplace – Southern District of Iowa (@USAO_SDIA) December 23, 2025

Courtroom information additionally present this wasn’t the primary time Peterson had run into bother. In 2024, he was convicted of theft in Woodbury County after taking greater than $50,000 upfront for development work that was by no means finished.

Unfavorable evaluations present sample of habits

In keeping with a Yelp review, one person met with Peterson in Des Moines in 2017. They later despatched a deposit to begin repairs, nonetheless, they added: “The job by no means acquired completed and we have been informed that they didn’t use all of our cash that his accomplice scammed him and we’d want to attend till Chip acquired every little thing straightened out with the courts. Now we have not heard something and the job will not be completed. The final [conversation] was in 2019.”

Related evaluations have been seen on the corporate’s Fb web page, nonetheless, they haven’t been independently verified.

Screenshot of Facebook comments alleging unfinished construction work, unpaid subcontractors, and complaints against contractor Chip Peterson. — Social media customers describe alleged unpaid work and complaints involving contractor Chip Peterson. Credit score: Fb / Legacy Siding and Home windows

Ankeny contractor admits playing away buyer funds in federal fraud case

After racking up practically $1 million in unsecured debt, Peterson filed for chapter safety. However throughout these proceedings, he made a number of false statements about his job, companies, revenue, financial institution accounts, instruments, gear, electronics, and jewellery. Investigators stated Peterson later admitted he had “no thought” the place the revenue figures he reported got here from and acknowledged that he hadn’t paid taxes for a number of years.

First page of a U.S. District Court judgment showing Louis Grant Peterson pleaded guilty to false declaration and was sentenced in December 2025. — Federal courtroom judgment exhibits Louis Grant Peterson pleaded responsible to false declaration in chapter.

Authorities additionally stated that even after he was federally indicted, Peterson took a $17,000 deposit for a window set up job he by no means accomplished. The cash was ultimately returned after the victims filed a grievance with the Iowa Legal professional Basic’s Workplace.

The case was introduced by U.S. Legal professional David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa. The FBI investigated the case with assist from the Workplace of the USA Trustee, and Assistant U.S. Legal professional Joseph Lubben prosecuted it.

Featured picture: Legacy Siding and Home windows by way of NextDoor

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