SEATTLE – A 58-year-old home renovation contractor from Kirkland, Washington, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to wire fraud for stealing more than $3.5 million from clients using fake invoices, U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced.

Joseph D. Bergevin admitted that he falsified invoices to steal money from 24 clients who hired him for their remodeling projects. U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead set sentencing for November 7, 2024. According to the settlement, Bergevin was the general contractor on several home remodeling projects between 2016 and 2019. As the general contractor, Bergevin was responsible for hiring subcontractors to perform specific work on the project and making sure they were paid. However, during the wire fraud scheme, Bergevin presented hundreds of fake subcontractor invoices to his clients. Bergevin used the subcontractors’ names, logos, and other identifying information to create the false invoices. He then sent them to the clients for payment. Bergevin falsely told the client that the invoice was for work that had already been performed or would be performed. In some cases, he claimed that by paying “up front,” the client could obtain lower prices for building materials when the work was completed.

The false invoices totaled $3,554,054 and were sent to 24 different customers. Under the terms of the settlement, Bergevin is required to pay restitution of at least $3,554,054. Prosecutors will present evidence at sentencing showing restitution of all losses incurred as a result of criminal conduct in this scheme.

Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence at the low end of the court’s guidelines. Judge Whitehead is not bound by the recommendation and can impose any sentence permitted by law. Wire fraud is punishable by up to twenty years in prison.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, Kirkland Police Department and King County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Dion and Yunah Chung are prosecutors.