A duo based in Houston stands accused of deceiving clients of their construction company out of vast sums of money, only to squander it in casinos. The family presented a repertoire of deceptive reasons for not completing their work, with one notable claim asserting Aleck Miller had suffered a heart attack.
Ria Krishna and Rohan Krishna had engaged the services of Mr. Miller and his college educator spouse, Andrea Pierce Miller, with the task of building a covered patio and introducing an additional driveway lane at their residence in Friendswood.
Initially, Mr. Miller conducted himself in a professional manner, according to Mr. Krishna. However, this facade quickly crumbled when Mr. Miller failed to undertake the contracted work, leading to the Krishnas becoming suspicious.
The Krishnas’ attempts at communication with the Millers were continually thwarted by a string of excuses, including the aforementioned claim by Mrs. Miller that her husband had suffered a heart attack. Later investigations confirmed this to be a falsehood.
The predicament was further exacerbated by the substantial financial investment the Krishnas had already devoted to the project. From an initial quote of $30,000, the project’s costs had risen significantly due to Mr. Miller demanding an upfront fee of $11,125, a subsequent $500 for materials, an additional $2,500 for flooring upgrades, and a final deposit of $3,750. The Krishnas paid in excess of $18,000 and subsequently lost contact with the Millers.
All the while, the Krishnas’ backyard remained largely unaltered, barring one visit from a concrete crew who ceased work after their payment check from Mr. Miller was returned due to insufficient funds.
The Perpetrators Squandered the Cash in Casinos
Eventually, the Krishnas had the devastating realization that they had been victimized. Moreover, they were not the only victims as court documents reveal other deceived families collectively paid an additional $87,125 to the deceitful couple.
So where did all this money go? Investigations indicated that the Millers were employing the proceeds to fund gambling trips across the United States. Mr. Miller was notably found to have been frequenting luxury casinos in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Nevada on dates he claimed to be incapacitated by illness.
Records demonstrate that the Millers may have gambled a staggering $1.53 million at the Golden Nugget Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana, alone.
Aleck and Andrea Miller are currently pursued on felony theft aggregate charges. Arrest warrants were issued last Thursday.
The Krishnas have since moved forward, hiring a different contractor to complete their project. They implore others to learn from their unfortunate experience and avoid falling into a similar trap.
