Flathead Valley contractor to pay $200K to customers he allegedly defrauded

A Flathead County contractor accused of ripping off his clients agreed this month to pay $200,000 to his victims and stop doing business in Montana.

Nathaniel Gevern Lewis, through his construction businesses NGL Construction and From the Ground Up Construction, took customers' payment and then failed to complete the work, said Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen on March 12. On some jobs, Lewis allegedly demolished walls or decks without prior approval, occasionally claiming they suffered from rot or violated building codes, and then demanded more money.  

Lewis demanded large upfront payments, typically more than 50% of a project's total cost, Knudsen said. Several of his customers were left with unfinished jobs or structures exposed to the elements, according to the attorney general.