[chemgear]

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...aud-conviction

Consumer protection authorities have launched a formal investigation against bankrupt Calgary contractor Bruce Hopkins, who was convicted of fraud 10 years ago in connection with an unfinished home renovation.
More than 20 homeowners have complained to Service Alberta since H

Hopkins put his company, The Remodelers, into bankruptcy in October, alleging he collected a total of $3 million from them for unfinished renovations or projects that were never started.

Since learning of Hopkins’ criminal conviction during a recent creditors’ meeting, the Mravunacs and other homeowners in the group want to know how he was able to obtain a special prepaid contractor licence in light of the prior fraud.

Reached Friday, Hopkins said he was addicted to drugs in the late 1990s until entering treatment in 2000 — and that his drug use was behind his conviction for fraud over $5,000.

The conviction stems from a renovation a Calgary couple hired Hopkins to do on their Ranchlands home sometime in late 1999 or early 2000, according to court documents obtained by the Herald.

Hopkins never finished the job and never returned a car that the couple had given him as a deposit on the job, instead selling the vehicle for drug money.