By AMANDA KIMBLE TheFlashToday.com
ERATH COUNTY (January 24, 2017) – Through a barrage of defense objections and multiple motions for mistrial, a jury of nine women and three men heard the state’s case against Argel Cital in the 266th Judicial District Court Tuesday. Cital, 30, was accused of theft and forgery in an alleged roofing scheme targeting Dublin residents in 2015. This is why you only trust and employ the help of qualified and legitimate contractors, for example this Snohomish Roofing Contractor and of course more, just make sure to always do your research before you have a contractor undertake your project. It is important to remember that not all roofing contractors are trying to scam you, and to do your research when looking for a contractor.
An Erath County grand jury indicted Cital on four charges last year, including two counts each of theft and forgery. He is currently being tried on a single count for allegedly stealing $10,000 from an elderly Dublin woman, a third-degree felony.
If found guilty of the offense, Cital faces two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
During opening statements, Assistant District Attorney Jett Smith took the jury back to late spring, early summer 2015 shortly after Dublin was hit by a storm system that left structures across the city in need of repair.
Cital and his employees – representing Aztec Construction Group, which was at some point also known as Aztec Roofing & Restoration – began knocking on doors and securing home improvement contracts. The Grapevine-based construction company was one of many companies that flooded into the area to turn the natural disaster into financial gain.
Enith Murray, a 71-year-old Dublin homeowner, told the jury her North Grafton Street home – roof, windows, walls and other areas – sustained significant damage. Murray said she was looking for someone to complete the repairs when a friend and neighbor suggested that she talk to Aztec representatives.
Murray said at their first meeting, she spoke with Cital and two of his salespeople, Robin and Joe Thacker. The homeowner said her only other contact with Cital was over the telephone when she called to inquire about the project, which was never started, and the $10,000 refund she never received.
Robin and Joe both testified on behalf of the state, detailing a business relationship with the defendant that Joe said was the “perfect storm,” with complaints from contractors who were not being paid for their work, customers whose jobs were not being completed and bouts of inclement weather that Cital cited with the failure get the work done.
Meanwhile, the victim said she directly communicated with Robin Thacker during the signing of the repair contract and when payment was remitted. Murray said the check was presented to Thacker on June 15, 2015, and after weeks of voicemails and inquiries about the construction project, Cital said he would be in Dublin July 3 to return her money. But, she told the jury that day never came.
Murray reported the failure to render services and $10,000 theft to Dublin Police Department on July 10.
Almost two years after the storm ripped through Murray’s home, she said none of the funds paid to Aztec Construction have been returned. She also said the only repairs to her home were completed by friends from a Gustine church who replaced the roof.
Murray said she felt deceived by Cital.
“I trusted him,” she said. “He was nice and polite with me. I thought I was doing business with the right person. I am Hispanic, and so was he, I thought he would take better care of me than anyone else. It was a very big disappointment.”
Another state’s witness and Dublin homeowner, Donald Sani, said his Gracie Street home also sustained damage. He said he entered into an agreement with Cital to complete $21,000 in repairs. Murray also said the check that was given to Cital required the signature of an officer of the bank where his home loan had been obtained. But, Sani said Cital managed to cash the check without the required signature and never returned to work on the home.
During earlier testimony, Dublin police Investigator Nancy Wilson, a certified fraud examiner, said she signed on with the department in December 2015 and was made immediately aware of multiple complaints against Aztec Construction by six or seven Dublin residents. Wilson said her investigation also revealed victims in other cities across North Texas, and the allegations related to similar thefts and frauds.
Throughout the proceeding, Dallas-based defense attorney Rosalind Kelly lodged objections about testimony not specific to Murray. But, sitting Judge Donald Jones said theft cases allow evidence and testimony related to similar behavior is admissible.
Testimony in the State of Texas v. Argel Cital is expected to continue Wednesday in the 266th Judicial District Court.
Additional information, including a pre-trial report and subsequent report on the second day of proceedings and punishment can be found in preceeding stories – follow the hyperlinks to read more.
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