A Yavapai County judge has sentenced an unlicensed contractor to over 43 years in prison for stealing from elderly victims. Sixty-four-year-old Mark A. Whittington of Chino Valley, was sentenced Monday. Whittington was found guilty in August of fraud schemes, theft and contracting without a license.
Whittington was also ordered to pay restitution to his victims.
Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane commended the Arizona Registrar of Contractors and the Prescott Police Department for their thorough investigation into Whittington’s criminal activity.
On August 4, 2023, a Yavapai County Jury found Whittington guilty of Fraud Schemes, Theft, and Contracting Without a License. In a prior case, Whittington was previously convicted of seven counts of Theft and Advertising Without a Contractor’s License, and placed on intensive probation and ordered to repay the money he took from his victims. The new case was prosecuted by McGrane’s office after it was discovered Whittington continued his illegal scheme even after being placed on probation.
In both matters, Whittington contracted with victims to perform expensive home remodeling or repairs, despite not being a licensed contractor. He took approximately $70,000.00 in total from eight victims despite failing to complete the work he agreed to do. In some cases, he didn’t do any work at all and refused to return his victim’s calls and letters. Whittington portrayed himself as an experienced contractor and targeted elderly and retired victims through various advertisements in the Quad City area, including using multiple business names and fraudulent identities to hide his illegal actions.