JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Today, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that Gene M. Matlock, owner of Matlock Construction, pled guilty to defrauding Missouri consumers through his residential contracting business.
“Families place their trust and their savings into the hands of contractors. They shouldn’t have to worry about being deceived,” said Attorney General Hanaway. “Every Missourian deserves honest work in exchange for hard?earned dollars. We are committed to rooting out contractor fraud, protecting consumers, and securing restitution for those who’ve been harmed.”
On August 17, 2026, Matlock pled guilty to one felony count of deceptive business practices and one felony count of stealing. According to the investigation, Matlock solicited large, upfront payments from consumers for home?construction and contracting services. After receiving payment, he either…
These frauds exploit emotional vulnerability and trust rather than technical weaknesses.
- Romance Scams: Scammers build long-term online relationships with victims, eventually fabricating a “crisis” (medical emergency, legal trouble, or travel costs) that requires the victim to send money.
- Pig Butchering: A hybrid scam where the criminal builds a romantic or platonic relationship to eventually “tutor” the victim in a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment.