The Dallas ex-roofer known for his poker skills and the nickname Grumpy now has a new reason to live up to that name.<\/p>\n
The Texas attorney general announced that the state has secured $ 1.5 million from Gilab Rubinsky in civil penalties<\/a> in his theft case, including $500,000 to be returned to some of the victims.<\/p>\n The Watchdog has watched this alleged swindle unfold for months. Usually, roofers who steal payments from unsuspecting victims are left alone by Texas authorities. It\u2019s an easy crime.<\/p>\n What made the difference here? I believe in this case, about 41 property owners met through social media and signed up on a spreadsheet. That information was passed on to help police and prosecutors make the case.<\/p>\n As I previously reported, I don\u2019t believe law enforcement would have taken the cases were it not for the aggressive\u00a0fight back by victims<\/a>.<\/p>\n The alleged conspiracy is one of the biggest roofing scandals in the Dallas region in the past decade.<\/p>\n This week, when The Watchdog called victims for their reaction to the attorney general\u2019s civil case, none had heard specifics of the case. I was happy to deliver the good news.<\/p>\n In a released statement, Attorney General Ken\u00a0Paxton stated about Rubinsky Roofing, \u201cWhat this company did to consumers and elderly Texans is an absolute disgrace. I am glad to help Texans get repaid and ensure that \u2026 the\u00a0scam ends<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Alvaro Lau Camarena, who led the organizing of the victims together, told me that with Rubinsky\u2019s bankruptcy,<\/a> it would be \u201ca miracle\u201d if anyone gets their money back.<\/p>\n Victim Tony\u00a0Scoggins said \u201cI\u2019m going to do black flips.<\/p>\n Brad Welcher added, \u201cI\u2019m just glad that justice is being served.\u201d<\/p>\n