Prosecutors charged 32-year-old Ulises Tajonar Diaz with two counts of felony theft after investigators say he collected more than $32,000 in deposits from homeowners and failed to start contracted work. Victims include a Golden homeowner who paid roughly $7,000 on a $14,000 job and a couple who paid $19,000 on a $39,775 contract. Authorities say about 10 more potential victims have come forward, and the investigation is ongoing. Consumers are urged to limit upfront payments, tie payments to completed work, and use payment methods that provide a paper trail.
Colorado Homeowners Say Big Deposits Led To No Work — Landscaper Charged With Felony Theft
Image Credit: Denver7.
Prosecutors have charged a Colorado landscaper after multiple homeowners say they paid large deposits and received neither work nor refunds. The First Judicial District Attorney's Office filed two counts of felony theft against 32-year-old Ulises Tajonar Diaz, who investigators say collected more than $32,000 in deposits for residential projects that never started.
Investigation and Allegations
Authorities say Diaz operated several landscaping businesses across the Denver metro area under the name "My Son's Landscape" and a related entity, "My Son's Landscape Group LLC." The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office opened an investigation in June after receiving two theft reports from homeowners who said they signed contracts, paid deposits and then lost contact with Diaz.
One Golden homeowner, Ryan Harmon, told Denver7 he hired Diaz after seeing work in his neighborhood. Harmon says he was quoted about $14,000 and paid a 50% deposit—roughly $7,000—but the crew never showed and communication broke down after payment. Harmon also said he had checked the company's online reputation and found roughly 291 mostly positive Google reviews before hiring.
In a separate case, prosecutors allege a Golden couple contracted Diaz for a $39,775 project and paid a $19,000 deposit by personal check on May 2 for work scheduled to begin June 9. According to the First Judicial District Attorney's Office, Diaz repeatedly rescheduled, then stopped responding by mid-June. The office filed charges on July 27 alleging two counts of felony theft, each in the $5,000–$20,000 range.
“We wanted to make our yard a safe play area for our child,” Harmon told Denver7. “We paid upfront and then we never heard back.”
Organizers and reporters say roughly 10 additional people have contacted investigators or community groups since the probe began, and officials are seeking more information — a sign the inquiry could expand.
Legal Status
There is currently no conviction. The charges are allegations and the case is pending prosecution.
Consumer Advice
These cases typically hinge on large upfront deposits, which are the greatest risk in home-improvement contracts. Colorado consumer-protection guidance recommends:
- Keep upfront payments as small as the contractor will accept.
- Structure later payments to correspond with completed stages of work.
- Pay with methods that create a paper trail and offer recourse (for example, credit cards may allow chargebacks; personal checks often do not).
- Verify required licenses and business registration, and get the full scope, schedule, and payment terms in a written contract.
Anyone who believes they have been defrauded should report it to their local sheriff or police department and submit a complaint to the Colorado Attorney General's Office. Reporting can help investigators connect related complaints and protect other homeowners.
Source: Reporting by Denver7 Investigates; First Judicial District Attorney's Office; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Allegations are pending prosecution.
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