LaPorte County law enforcement is urging residents to be on alert after a man posing as a contractor has been targeting homeowners in the area, using deceitful tactics to steal money for substandard work.

Authorities say Richard L. Frank, 46, has been operating in LaPorte County, falsely claiming to own a legitimate business, Frank and Sons Paving, LLC, based in Elgin, Illinois. Frank has approached homeowners on the west side of the county, offering to seal coat driveways without providing a written contract.

In two separate incidents, Frank and his crew completed the work quickly, demanding thousands of dollars in cash. In the first case, after finishing the job in just 45 minutes, Frank demanded $8,200. When the homeowner refused to pay, Frank repeatedly harassed them over the phone. In the second case, Frank demanded $8,900, claiming the price was for materials only and did not include labor.

A photograph of Frank, obtained during the initial investigation, was shown to the second victim, who confirmed the man was indeed Richard L. Frank. Authorities have since learned that Frank is known to use multiple aliases and has an extensive criminal history.

Frank is described as standing 5’10”, weighing approximately 280 pounds. He is currently driving a black 2024 Ford F-150 with a personalized Montana license plate. Frank is wanted by multiple law enforcement agencies across the country, from California to Pennsylvania, on a range of charges, with nationwide extradition in place.

Anyone who comes into contact with Frank or observes suspicious activity is urged to contact local authorities immediately by calling 911.