Call Kurtis: Punishment For Window Coverings Company Owner Accused Of Taking Customers' Money

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The owner of a Sacramento window coverings company exposed in a Call Kurtis investigation is facing punishment.

We call on Kurtis with the man, customers say took their money, but never delivered.

We know of at least four customers who say he took their money and ran!

He managed to hide from us but he couldn't hide from a judge!

Tai Hua seen here in his mug shot has been sentenced to three months in jail.

The owner of American Style Window Coverings took out this ad, Andrew Kay found in this magazine.

"It says a license number on there. From first look at the ad, I had confidence he was something," said Andrew.

He says Tai cashed his $1,000 deposit for new blinds a half hour after he wrote it.

Andrew says month after month, he got excuses about broken machinery and then Tai stopped returning his calls.

"I don't know what to do. I am frustrated," said Andrew.

He wasn't there when our producer stopped by his Elk Grove address and never returned our repeated calls.

We uncovered the contractor's license number Tai used on his ad was inactive and once belonged to a general contractor in the bay area.

"That's not uncommon for people who aren't licensed to make up a contractor's license number or use one in the database that belongs to someone else," said Douglas Whaley, Deputy District Attorney, Sacramento County District Attorney's office.

After learning of two victims, Whaley charged Tai with felony grand theft.

"Tai pled guilty to one count of grand theft as a felony, one count of fraudulent use of a contractor's license number," said Whaley.

Sentenced to 90 days in jail and five years probation, Tai must now pay back the two victims named in the complaint.

"I hope people hear about this and don't get ripped off by this guy," said Andrew.

Sacramento County Sheriff's Dept. tells us instead of jail time, Tai will perform community work projects.

As for the other two victims not listed in the criminal complaint, one got a refund after running into him at a store.

The other filed a complaint with the Contractors State License Board.