Berkshire County — Fred Senter of Pittsfield, owner of Northern Steel Buildings & Structures in Lee, was found guilty of 25 charges in Berkshire Superior Court on Wednesday, April 24.
He was originally indicted in June 2022 for the charges.
According to a press release by the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office, Senter was found guilty by a jury on charges relating to larceny under false pretenses.
Senter was found guilty of 19 counts of larceny over $1,200, five counts of larceny over $250 from a victim over 60 years of age, and one count of larceny under $1,200.
He started Northern Steel Buildings and Structures in Lee in 2018, and the business specialized in constructing carports and steel structures.
According to the press release issued by the District Attorney’s Office: “Senter entered a series of contracts to construct steel garages and/or carports that financially victimized individuals, towns, and companies. Senter told the victims he required a 50 percent deposit prior to beginning the work; however, after Senter received the deposit, the work would almost never begin. Senter completed a minimal amount of work for the contract held with the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department, a named victim in the case.”
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Senter will be sentenced at a future date.
The victims involved in the cases included residents of Berkshire County, the greater Massachusetts area, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island; the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department; and privately owned businesses. In total, the victims lost more than $300,000 under false pretenses that with a deposit, work would eventually be completed.
