Contractor found guilty in federal court

A Washington man accused of defrauding homeowners and media in Flathead County was found guilty in U.S. District Court in Missoula following a Dec. 5-9 trial.

John Mulinski, 50, of Covington, Wash., was found guilty of three of eight felony wire fraud charges brought against him. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to federal prosecutor Tim Racicot, Mulinski owned and operated Sunrise Quality Construction in the Flathead from June 2010 to February 2011. He arranged for ads in newspapers and on radio, signed contracts for roofing jobs and hired construction workers. Later he expanded his business to the Great Falls area.

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry began to investigate Mulinski in October 2010 for not paying workers compensation for his employees.

The department turned the case over to the Secret Service when it discovered fraud, and it levied a $40,000 fine against Mulinski in April, the largest the department had ever levied against a contractor.

Homeowners who had hired Mulinski testified in the trial that he took their money but didn't show up or didn't complete roofing jobs. They also said they were unable to contact him or found that his given address didn't exist. Mulinski's employees and media companies testified that Mulinski owed them money.

Mulinski's defense argued that roofing jobs were delayed because of bad weather or because homeowners were away on vacation, and that advertising customers besides Mulinski owed media companies money.

Mulinski also reportedly faces 15-17 felony charges in Washington state.