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Released by: Sgt Kent Vander Kamp
Arrested: Quesada, Jacob I.C. Age: 29 Lodi, California
Charges: Theft I by Deception or Fraud X5
*** UPDATED June 28th, 2021 ***
On May 27th, 2021 Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Detectives arrested Jacob Quesada after a several-month investigation into a fraudulent contractor scheme in Crook and Deschutes Counties. After his May arrest, Detectives asked the public for additional victims to come forward. On June 23rd, 2021, Detectives arrested Quesada for an additional five Theft by Deception / Fraud cases in Deschutes County. Two additional cases are pending in Crook County.
Detectives believe there are additional victims of Quesada’s scam in the central Oregon area. In all of the cases, Facebook was the primary advertising source, Names used by Quesada on Facebook included Jay Q, Jay Que, Jacob Quesada, Jay Winz or Quesada Handyman Service with addresses in La Pine, Los Banos, CA or Lodi, CA.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone who has been a victim of this scam, and has not already made a report, to call Sergeant Kent Vander Kamp at 541-550-4869 or 541-693-6911 to make a report. Reference case # 21-22798
**** END OF UPDATE ****
In March 2021, a Detective with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office began receiving information from several citizens throughout Deschutes and Crook County regarding “Quesada Handyman Service” and Jacob Quesada.
Citizens reported that money was being paid to Quesada for residential and commercial flooring, decking, and painting installations. Oregon law requires contractor's licenses and insurance for these services. Quesada is not licensed nor insured to conduct these services.
Quesada often advertised these services on Facebook and would communicate with victims on the social media platform. Victims would provide down-payments to Quesada during an in-person meeting. In some instances, Quesada would never return. Other times, Quesada would begin the work and discontinue mid-project, or the work was sub-standard.
During the investigation, Deschutes County Detectives located a victim in Crook County that lost substantial money to Quesada. Earlier this month, the Deschutes County Detective presented the case to the Crook County District Attorney’s Office and an arrest warrant was obtained.
Detectives believe Quesada is a California resident and returns to the central Oregon area to pursue this scam regularly. While searching for Quesada, he was stopped in Bend for a traffic violation and arrested for the Crook County theft warrant.
Detectives believe there are other victims of Quesada’s scam in the central Oregon area. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone who has been a victim of this scam to call Sergeant Kent Vander Kamp at 541-550-4869 or 541-693-6911 to make a report. Reference case # 21-22798
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office also reminds citizens that they should use caution and due diligence when hiring a contractor. The Oregon Construction Contractors Board website offers quality resources to help avoid common scams and confirm a professional’s license status.
Quesada was lodged in the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Jail on the above-mentioned charge. This investigation is ongoing and additional charges are anticipated.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process, and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with six K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 191 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.