WTHR-13 has posted an extensive report about an Indianapolis contractor facing multiple felony charges following a series of alleged crimes exposed by the broadcaster’s investigation.
On July 3 the Marion County Prosecutor’s office charged Daniel Yattaw, 34, with five counts of theft and one count of corrupt business influence for what investigators called “a pattern of racketeering activity” targeting unsuspecting victims, WTHR reported. The Marion County Sheriff’s office is currently looking for Yattaw after an arrest warrant was issued in connection with the charges.
“He’s being actively sought after right now,” said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Detective Sergeant Eric Eads, the lead detective on the case. “We determined Daniel Yattaw used funds that were meant for construction jobs for his own personal gain. It’s quite a bit of money.”
Yattaw’s company, Modern Construction, had allegedly accepted money from customers for home improvement projects and then failed to complete the work. Meanwhile, investigators checking his bank records discovered he was drawing funds from the business account for personal expenses ranging from casino visits to wedding photos
According to the probable cause affidavit filed on July 3 in Marion County, Yattaw and his company engaged in theft totaling more than $81,000 from five victims in Marion, Boone and Morgan counties.
As well, Yattaw was arrested on July 2 in Monroe County for nearly identical allegations made by another customer. Bloomington Police Department investigators asserted that he accepted $8,450 in October 2017 to repair a couple’s damaged roof, but never followed through on the job.
Mark Yattaw, Daniel’s brother, was listed as a project manager with Modern Construction. Both are now charged with felony home improvement fraud and theft in connection with the Monroe County case.
Daniel Yattaw was booked into the Monroe County jail earlier in the week. At his pretrial conference, the contractor entered a plea of not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in court again later in July.
Yattaw’s legal troubles go back further. The broadcaster discovered he has a long arrest record and criminal convictions for offenses such as dealing narcotics, resisting law enforcement and felony robbery.”
Yattaw could be sentenced to 5 to 27 years of incarceration in the Indiana Department of Corrections if he is found guilty of all of the charges.
