Man scammed business owners in Missoula
By TYLER CHRISTENSEN of the Missoulian
Authorities in Washington have arrested a man suspected of scamming dozens of Missoula businesses and individuals using a fake business called All About Signs.
Police in Spokane and Airway Heights, Wash., say Michael A. Patenaude sold bogus raffle tickets and collected advance payments for goods he never delivered in several Western states, including Montana, Washington and California.
They believe he has been going door-to-door offering to make signs for regional retail businesses, focusing his efforts especially on restaurants and taverns. Patenaude allegedly used a laptop to create sample designs, then demanded half the full payment in advance.
According to the regional Better Business Bureau, which covers Montana, northern Idaho and eastern Washington, Patenaude’s victims provided checks ranging from $2,000 to $4,500, but never received any signs and were not able to contact him using the address and phone numbers he provided.
Sgt. Greg Rogan of the Airway Heights Police Department said Patenaude sometimes used his parents’ home address and phone numbers in Texas, where he is facing burglary charges for allegedly stealing from them.
Patenaude has no legitimate business license, Rogan added.
Police in Washington believe he hit at least six different businesses in Airway Heights, and several more in Spokane. Several of the businesses complained to local law enforcement, which traced Patenaude to his residence and arrested him there.
“We’re charging him with first-degree theft,” Rogan said.
Other states may consider additional charges, he added, and the FBI may also get involved because the alleged activity spanned so many states.
“This gentleman has gone across the country just leaving a wake of victims,” Rogan said.
The Better Business Bureau reported that many victims in Missoula were sold fake raffle tickets for a Hummer or an ATV with a snowplow on behalf of an organization called the New Life Foundation. All the raffle tickets, however, carried the same number.
Authorities are still gathering information about the scope of Patenaude’s activities, and the bureau is encouraging business owners and others in the Missoula area who believe they were swindled to contact local law enforcement and help them build a case.
Reporter Tyler Christensen can be reached at 523-5215 or at tyler.christensen@lee.net.
