Pittsfield man guilty of accepting deposits, never completing construction contracts

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A Pittsfield man has been found guilty of more than two dozen charges of larceny in connection to operating a construction business and never finishing projects after being partially paid.

According to the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office, Fred Senter was found guilty in Berkshire Superior Court on 19 counts of larceny over $1,200, one count of larceny under $1,200 and five counts of larceny over $250 from a victim over the age of 60.

Senter operated Northern Stell Buildings and Structures in Lee since 2018, specializing in building carports and steel structures. From February 2020 to September 2020, Senter was contracted to build steel garages or carports and required a 50% deposit before beginning work. However, once he received those payments, the work never began. In one of the contracts, Senter did the minimum amount of work needed for a contract with the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department.

There were a total of 18 victims in the case ranging from Berkshire County to other areas of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Victims lost over a combined $300,000 for work promised to be completed.

“This was a complex case involving many victims. I am thankful for the jury’s thoughtful deliberations which allowed justice to be served,” said DA Timothy Shugrue.

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