Contractor who allegedly took 500K in deposits but never started construction charged with felony theft

Linda Kim Brown, a contractor in Western Washington, faces charges of felony theft and tax evasion, accused of defrauding homeowners of nearly $500,000 for construction projects she never initiated. The three victims, residing in Edmonds, Lynnwood, and Bellevue, filed complaints with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), leading to Brown's registration suspension. She has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree theft and one count of filing a false tax return, with her trial scheduled for August 22. Despite claiming her businesses had no income from July 2021 to mid-October 2023, investigations revealed she deposited over $1. 5 million into her accounts.

Brown also failed to remit $72,400 in retail sales tax collected from customers. L&I's assistant director highlighted that dishonest contractors rob homeowners of their dreams, urging consumers to verify contractor registrations and obtain multiple bids. The case underscores the need for vigilance in the home renovation industry.