The Virginia Court of Appeals has upheld the convictions of Allen W. Knott and Sabrina G. Knott for construction fraud and obtaining money by false pretenses. The court's decision, issued on May 12, 2026, follows a trial where the couple was found guilty of defrauding multiple customers through their roofing company, Knott's Roofing. This ruling is significant as it reinforces the legal standards for construction fraud in Virginia and highlights the responsibilities of contractors to their clients.

Allen and Sabrina Knott operated Knott's Roofing in Page County, Virginia. Allen founded the business as a sole proprietorship in 2001, and Sabrina worked as the customer contact, secretary, and bookkeeper from 2018 to 2021. As the company grew, they began accepting large deposits from customers for roofing jobs, often requiring upfront payments of 70 to 80 percent of the contract value. However, they struggled financially, accumulating a debt of nearly $250,000 to their supplier, ABC Supply Company, and failed to complete many of the jobs they had promised.

The couple's financial troubles worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, which they cited as a reason for their inability to fulfill contracts. Despite this, they continued to accept new jobs and collect deposits from customers. Many victims testified that they paid significant sums upfront but received little to no communication or work from the Knotts. Detective Megan Morris began investigating the Knotts in 2021 after receiving multiple complaints from customers who had been defrauded.

During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that the Knotts knowingly accepted money for work they had no intention of completing. The jury found both Allen and Sabrina guilty of multiple counts of obtaining money by false pretenses and construction fraud. The court sentenced them to a combined total of 141 years in prison, with all but 4 years and 6 months suspended. Both Knotts appealed the verdicts, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to support their convictions.

The Court of Appeals ruled that the evidence presented at trial was adequate to support the convictions. The court noted that the victims' testimonies, combined with text messages exchanged between the Knotts, demonstrated their fraudulent intent. For example, Allen had texted Sabrina about lying to customers about the delays caused by COVID-19, indicating a clear intent to deceive. The court emphasized that fraudulent intent can be established through circumstantial evidence, including the Knotts' failure to perform contracted work and their efforts to avoid communication with customers.

The court also addressed the Knotts' argument regarding the statutory requirements for construction fraud in Virginia. Under Code § 18.2-200.1, a contractor is guilty of construction fraud if they accept money for work they do not intend to perform and fail to return that money within 15 days of receiving a demand for it. The Knotts challenged the validity of some demand letters sent by their victims, arguing that these letters did not meet the statutory requirement of being sent by certified mail with a return receipt requested. However, the court found that the victims had provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that they had sent their demand letters properly, and the jury's verdicts were upheld.

This ruling has implications for contractors and consumers alike. It reinforces the importance of transparency and accountability in the construction industry, particularly during challenging economic times. Contractors must adhere to legal standards and fulfill their obligations to clients to avoid severe legal consequences. For consumers, this case serves as a reminder to document transactions and demands for refunds when dealing with contractors.

Looking ahead, the Knotts may seek to appeal this decision to the Virginia Supreme Court, although details on any potential appeal were not available in the court filing. This case may also prompt further discussions about consumer protection laws in Virginia, particularly in the construction sector.