FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — A contractor was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to defrauding an Emlenton couple out of more than $12,000.00.

According to court documents, 37-year-oldChad Michael Eckenrode, of Meadville, pleaded guilty on June 19 in Venango County Court of Common Pleas to accepting $12,560.00 from the couple in July 2016 to complete a home construction project.

After receiving the money, Eckenrode “completed limited work and failed to complete the project,” according to police.

On Friday, September 8, Venango County Judge Robert Boyer sentenced Eckenrode to nine months to five years in state prison. It will be served concurrently with a 15- to 84-month sentence he received in Crawford County for a similar incident in December of 2015.

He was also ordered to pay $14,333.57 in restitution.

He is currently serving his time at SCI Camp Hill.

Eckenrode has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2001 that includes forgery, deceptive business practices, misrepresentation of information, and related offenses.