Contractor Convicted in Orange County For Stealing More Than $120,000
A Wurtsboro contractor, Kevin Hackett, was convicted by a jury on November 13, 2025 of grand larceny in the third degree and scheme to defraud in the first degree after prosecutors said he took in excess of $120,000 from three Warwick homeowners. He faces a potential sentence of four and two thirds to 14 years when he is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2026 and was remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail.
Orange County prosecutors won a conviction on November 13, 2025 against 35 year old Kevin Hackett of Wurtsboro, who operated under the name Operation Green Construction. The Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced the jury verdict, which found Hackett guilty on all charges including Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. Following the verdict Hackett was remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail.
Prosecutors described a pattern of contracts and partial work across three separate properties in the Town of Warwick during 2023. In May, 2023 Hackett entered into a contract to perform work at one home and received in excess of $38,000 to start demolition. He then demanded an additional $20,000, accepted the payment, demanded further funds, and subsequently stopped returning to the job and refused to reimburse the victims. In July, 2023 Hackett contracted for work at a second home owned by the same victims, who paid over $39,000 up front. After a subsequent demand for more money and payment of an additional $24,000, Hackett performed no further work and did not reimburse the homeowners. In September, 2023 Hackett entered into contracts with a different victim for work on a third home, accepted $27,900 and then ceased communication and performed no work. Collectively the scheme resulted in losses in excess of $120,000 to the victims, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The conviction carries a statutory exposure of four and two thirds to 14 years in prison at sentencing, currently set for January 5, 2026. The case underscores enforcement priorities for local prosecutors who say they will pursue criminal accountability in instances of alleged contractor fraud. For Orange County homeowners the case provides a stark example of financial exposure from construction and renovation projects, especially when advance payments are significant and work is not completed.
Local market conditions, including continued demand for home improvements, can create opportunities for both legitimate contractors and bad actors. The District Attorney’s action signals that criminal remedies remain available in addition to civil options when residents suffer alleged fraud. Homeowners in Warwick and throughout Orange County should take note of the amounts involved and the legal outcome, and consider written contracts, verification of credentials and careful payment schedules when hiring tradespeople.
The defendant will remain in custody until his January sentencing date, and the District Attorney’s Office filed the original announcement through Orange County News. The case will also likely prompt further attention to consumer protection and contractor oversight in the county.
