By Jordan Ellis
TOPEKA, Kan. — A Wichita-area contractor accused of defrauding numerous Kansas homeowners and a bank out of hundreds of thousands of dollars was arrested Saturday after authorities served a Sedgwick County warrant.
According to jail records, Chad Eric Smith, 55, was booked at approximately 7:25 p.m. Saturday on a charge listed as “Hold for Another County in Kansas.” He is being held on a $253,823.81 cash bond pending transfer to Sedgwick County.
The arrest stems from Sedgwick County District Court case SG-2025-CR-000431, where prosecutors allege Smith carried out a years-long pattern of fraudulent conduct while operating construction businesses under names including CS Renovations, Reliable Remodels, and Austin Construction.
According to an affidavit filed by an investigator with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, the investigation began after numerous homeowners reported paying Smith substantial sums for remodeling and construction projects that were allegedly left unfinished, delayed for months, or never properly completed.
Investigators allege Smith obtained an SBA-backed construction loan for one customer and submitted multiple payment applications that included invoices investigators later determined were either altered, fabricated, or issued by companies that denied creating them. The affidavit also alleges requests for payment were made for work that had already been paid for or had not yet been completed.
The investigation identifies multiple homeowners in Wichita, Augusta, Cheney and surrounding communities who allegedly paid deposits ranging from several thousand dollars to well over $150,000 for home construction and remodeling projects. Several victims told investigators work stopped after large payments were made, while others reported paying subcontractors a second time to finish their homes after Smith allegedly abandoned the projects.
Investigators also allege Smith repeatedly represented himself as a licensed contractor despite not holding the required Sedgwick County contractor license. The affidavit states permits on several projects were instead obtained using another contractor’s license through American Construction Team, a practice investigators describe as prohibited under county regulations.
The affidavit further alleges investigators reviewed banking records documenting approximately $922,647.71 in deposits from multiple alleged victims into accounts associated with Smith’s construction business.
The filing also references prior action by the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Division. According to investigators, Smith previously entered a civil consent judgment agreeing to obtain proper licensing before offering construction services and later received another compliance warning reminding him not to perform contracting work without the appropriate license.
The criminal case remains pending in Sedgwick County District Court. As with all criminal defendants, Smith is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
