JR Construction Juan Garcia JR Insulation Work, Ripoff, Theft, Stolen, Took my Money, Thief, Black Hummer, Don't Trust Him, Paid up Front Mesquite Texas

I posted an Ad on Craigslist looking for a contractor to do insulation work on my home as well as some weatherstripping on my doors. JR Construction, AKA Juan Garcia responded to my ad. I spoke with him on the phone and via text message, we agreed to meet in Dallas to sign a contract and discuss. Signed contract and Juan stated he needed more than half of the money up front. I hesitantly did so via a $350 Check. We met and signed the contract on Thursday, February 27, 2014. He agreed to complete the work Saturday Morning 3/1/2014. 

On Saturday, 3/1/2014 he showed up to complete the work. He completed the door weatherstripping and his insulation truck showed up shortly after that. He said he had to leave as it was his daughter's 15th birthday party and asked for the remainder of the money. I paid him $230 in cash which was the agreed upon remainder of the contract. 

About 20 minutes pass and he calls my cell phone and said there is a problem with the check I gave him on Thursday and that he needs to collect the $350 in cash. I checked with my bank and the check had cleared the same day I wrote it to him. I believe he went to my bank and cashed it, but I'm not sure. I told him I would pay him no more money and he needed to complete the job. He said he can't complete the job as he tried to deposit the check and my bank had put a 7 day hold on the check. I took a picture of my online bank statement showing the check had cleared my bank and sent it to him via text . I demanded he give me my money back or complete the work. He said he would come back to my house and straighten it out.

He then called the subcontractor (Nico's Insulation in Lewisville, TX) and said that he wouldn't be paying them as "I didn't pay him". They knocked on my door and I spoke to them and explained that I had already paid him. After waiting about half an hour for him to show back up at my house to straighten this out, the subcontractors said they believe he may have scammed both of us. They said he didn't pay them yet and they are afraid he has done this before. They did not go into detail about how they knew he had done this before, just that they didn't trust him. They were very nice to me and encouraged me to call the police and file a report. Which I plan on doing in a couple of days if he doesn't get the work done. 

After looking on the internet and on ripoffreport, I see that others have been scammed by this contractor and that he has a criminal record for this sort of thing. Can't believe I was so foolish as to not look into this contractor further!