Vernon Hills man charged with home repair fraud

A Vernon Hills man who prosecutors say bilked a Mount Prospect homeowner out of thousands of dollars for home repair work he never performed was ordered held on $50,000 bail Friday.

Misha Paer, 43, of the 1100 block of Revere Place, was charged with aggravated home repair fraud. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison. Probation is also an option.

Paer was the owner of a garage door repair company, said Cook County assistant state's attorney David Shin. In May, the 63-year-old homeowner contacted Paer's company, which she found on an online home repair site. Between May 20 and June 15, Paer's brother, on behalf of Paer, contracted with the woman to demolish and repair her garage for $23,300, Shin said.

On May 20, the woman wrote Paer a check for $13,000, which bank surveillance video shows him depositing, Shin said. On May 28, Paer sent his brother to collect another $5,200 and tell the homeowner they were in the process of obtaining building permits, Shin said. That check was deposited by the brother, who is not charged with a crime. Paer's brother returned a third time to collect the balance, which video bank surveillance showed Paer depositing.

The homeowner became suspicious, contacted the village and learned no one had applied for a permit for the work, said Shin. She called police and informed them Paer had done none of the work and had not returned her calls.

During their investigation, police contacted Paer's brother, who told them he quit once Paer told him he did not intend to complete the job or refund the money, Shin said. Police went to the Elk Grove Village address where the business was supposedly located and it "appeared to no longer be in operation," Shin said.

Paer next appears in court on Nov. 6.