(Radio Iowa) – A Montana man has pleaded guilty to scamming a Cedar Rapids derecho victim out of thousands of dollars. Fifty-seven-year-old William Hurlbut Junior of Belgrade, Montana pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and admitted he posed as a contractor following the August derecho in 2020. He promised a disabled Cedar Rapids man he would fix his derecho-damaged home and took a 10-thousand dollar prepayment.

Hurlbut also admitted to taking supplies he said were for the work and got refunds. and sold the man’s car without permission. He spent the money on gambling and personal items — and never did any work on the man’s house. He is awaiting a sentencing date.