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MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (WJBK) -
James Ciarmataro spent Tuesday in court explaining to Judge Richard Caretti how tough it's been since I put him in the Hall of Shame.
"I've defiantly learned my lesson through embarrassment and everything I've gone through," he said.
Ciarmataro was in Macomb Circuit Court for sentencing on six separate cases where he pretended to be a licensed builder running a company called Maddox Construction and took money from customers.
Now he told the judge he has been reduced to doing odd jobs.
"Once my face was all over the news it was extremely hard to get work," he said. "And I do have other contractors that contact me and say I do need this and this, as long as it's painting or something easy, that's what I can do sir."
In January, I put Ciarmataro in The Hall of Shame. I introduced you to several of his unhappy customers who say he took thousands of dollars of their money and either did bad work - or no work at all.
I caught Ciarmataro on undercover video telling a customer he had a license.
WOLCHEK: "What kind of license do you have?"
Ciarmataro: "Builder's license."
But when I confronted Ciarmataro, he changed his tune.
WOLCHEK: "You don't have a license do you James?"
Ciarmataro: "No I don't have a license."
After my story aired, Ciarmataro had criminal charges in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties.
Ciarmataro has already pleaded guilty to being an unlicensed contractor in Wayne County. He's also plead guilty to six of his eight cases in Macomb County for larceny by conversion.
The judge complimented Ciarmataro's attorneys for negotiating misdemeanor plea deals on cases that all started as felonies - and let Ciarmataro know he's lucky.
"Frankly the depth and breadth of your deceit and non-performance is appalling," said Judge Richard Caretti. "You'd be very wise not to have any violations while on probations do you understand that?"
The judge sentenced Ciarmataro to 2 years’ probation, six months on a GPS tether and 90 days in jail after a review of his probation in a year. In other words, no jail for Ciarmataro for these cases unless he messes up.
That's right, he walks right out of the courtroom.
MORE COVERAGE:
Hall of Shame: Complaints build against baffling builder
Baffling builder back in court for even more charges
Baffling builder racks up charges, lands in jail
WOLCHEK: "You want to say anything at all?"
"No he doesn't," said Ciarmataro's lawyer.
WOLCHEK: "Do you want to apologize to the victims? The people you took the money from?"
James Ciarmataro says he doesn't like being on TV, but since he has more business here in Macomb County and starts a felony trial next month in Oakland County, chances are, James is going to be on TV a few more times.