Homeowner says contractor took $56,000 and disappeared without starting any work

WADDELL, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) - An Arizona couple says they paid a contractor to help them with a project on their property, but that person has disappeared with their money.

KPHO reports that Brian Lueck wanted to build a metal shop on his property to restore old vehicles.

According to Lueck, he hired Integrity Steel, owned by Nick Lammers, and handed over two checks totaling around $56,000 to start the project.

But that was six months ago, and Lammers hasn’t built anything on the property.

Lueck said communication with Lammers has stopped.

“No one is answering our phone calls or answering texts,” he said.

The KPHO investigative team said they spoke to Lammers regarding the situation.

Lammers acknowledged he was paid but did not start the job, blaming Maricopa County for allegedly holding up the permit that he submitted.

“I can’t go out and physically start the project. There is structural engineering that goes into it. I’m just waiting to hear back from [Maricopa County] so I can get the project going,” Lammers told the investigative team.

Lammers added that he understands the Luecks’ concerns but continued to blame Maricopa County.

However, according to county officials, Lammers’ permit application was incomplete.

“There was a permit application submitted for a detached steel building on Feb. 9. However, it remains in initialized status pending with more information needed,” a county spokesperson said. “Our Planning and Zoning Department emailed Mr. Lammers asking for structural and foundation calculations for the pre-engineered steel building. We have yet to receive that information from Mr. Lammers, so we are at a bit of a standstill.”

The KPHO investigative team said they passed that information to Lammers, but then he stopped communication.

The Luecks said they are not surprised Lammers stopped communicating with the county, as that’s exactly what he did to them after taking their $56,000.

“It’s devastating,” Lueck said. “I mean that kind of money is something you work really hard for.”

According to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, they are currently investigating Lammers and Integrity Steel.

The agency recently issued Lammers a citation for “abandonment of contract.” He has until March 23 to reply.

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