Flathead County Contractor to Pay $200,000 in Restitution for Scam

HELENA, Mont. – A Flathead County contractor, Nathaniel Gevern Lewis, has agreed to pay $200,000 in restitution to individuals affected by his fraudulent activities, the Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection announced today. The settlement also stipulates that Lewis will cease all business operations within the state.

Investigations by the Office of Consumer Protection exposed Lewis’s multiple violations of Montana’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act. Operating under ‘From the Ground Up Construction’ and ‘NGL Construction,’ he was found to have solicited large upfront payments, often exceeding 50% of the total project cost, and subsequently failing to complete the construction services agreed upon.

Victims of Lewis’s schemes reported unauthorized demolition of property structures and manipulation around non-existent compliance issues to extort further payments. In several cases, projects were left unfinished, exposing structures to the elements.

Attorney General Austin Knudsen emphasized the ongoing risk, as reports suggest Lewis may still be attempting to engage in fraudulent activities in Flathead County while the agreement awaits judicial sign-off.

The Department of Justice urges Montanans to exercise vigilance when hiring contractors, recommending several precautionary measures such as thorough research, multiple bids, checking references, and ensuring contractors’ registration and insurance.

For more information on selecting a reputable contractor or to report scams, Montanans can visit the Office of Consumer Protection’s website or contact the office directly.