A Missouri contractor is accused of diverting payments intended for construction projects while workers and subcontractors reported checks that bounced or money they never received. Court records describe one Warrensburg renovation that received more than $231,000 in payments and a separate appliance order that allegedly was never placed.
Tristan Joshua Aragon, 30, was booked into the Johnson County jail on November 3, 2026, after an arrest warrant issued in October was served. Prosecutors had already filed a 29-count felony complaint against him on October 5 in the 17th Judicial Circuit, under case 26JO-CR01000.
The case began with reports to Warrensburg police on May 5 about construction payments and bad checks. According to an eight-page sworn police affidavit, investigators later examined bank records, workers’ paychecks, building-permit information and a Lowe’s account to assess where customers’ money had gone.
During an earlier police interview in May, Aragon acknowledged using money designated for particular jobs to cover general business costs and personal bills, according to the affidavit. He maintained that he intended to complete the work and did not mean to defraud anyone.
One Renovation Generated $231,751 in Payments Across 14 Checks
Owners involved with the renovation of Magnolia Mercantile in downtown Warrensburg had accepted a $303,030 proposal from Aragon’s company, TRAD Construction, according to Detective Rod Gentry’s court-filed probable-cause statement. They told investigators they paid $231,751.87 in 14 checks between December 12, 2025, and April 29, 2026, for labor, building supplies, appliances and subcontractors.
As the project progressed, the customers questioned the work and Aragon’s requests for additional funds. They told police that suppliers and contractors had not received payments Aragon claimed to have made, and that materials he said he had ordered were missing. Investigators also learned from a Warrensburg building official that the project lacked authorization for work beyond general cleanout and minor demolition, even though TRAD Construction had a city business license.
Investigators Say a Nearly $24,000 Appliance Order Was Never Placed
A customer on a second renovation selected nearly $24,000 in appliances and fixtures on Lowe’s website, using the shopping cart in Aragon’s account, the police affidavit says. She gave him a check intended to pay for the items in April, but later learned they had not been ordered.
In July, detectives obtained purchasing records from Lowe’s. Those records did not show the promised order, and Aragon also acknowledged during his police interview that he had not placed it, according to the affidavit. Investigators reported another payment intended for heating and cooling work that had not reached the contractor hired for that job.
Workers Reported Bounced Paychecks, and Subcontractors Went Unpaid
The affidavit describes employees who received payroll checks returned for insufficient funds. One supervisor told investigators that two checks for $4,500 and $5,000, issued in April and May, were both returned unpaid. Other workers reported missing wages or similar bounced checks.
Subcontractors also described completed work they had not been paid for. An electrical contractor said a $7,035 check was returned, while a heating and cooling contractor reported an unpaid bill of $2,804.
Aragon Told Police He Used Job Funds for Business Costs and Personal Bills
Police records describe an earlier arrest and custodial interview on May 19. Aragon told detectives he was facing serious financial problems and acknowledged directing money earmarked for individual construction expenses toward general operations and personal expenses, according to the affidavit. He said he had tried to keep the business running and finish the contracted jobs despite cost overruns.
The affidavit also says he admitted telling customers he could repay them using retirement accounts and an annuity that did not actually exist. He denied intending to cheat anyone, and the police record describes him as attributing the situation to poor business decisions and mounting financial pressure. He was booked and released after that May interview, before the later October complaint and November warrant service.
Prosecutors Filed 29 Felony Counts Over Construction Payments and Bad Checks
The Johnson County felony complaint, filed October 5, contains four Class C stealing counts involving alleged amounts of at least $25,000, 15 Class D stealing counts and 10 Class E counts of passing bad checks.
A Judge Set a $150,000 Cash-Only Bond Before the November Arrest
Judge Kaitlyn Alexandra Roach issued an arrest warrant on October 7 setting a $150,000 cash-only bond, according to the signed warrant. Its conditions included no contact with victims and GPS monitoring before release. Missouri Case.net records that the warrant was served on November 3, the same date shown on the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office booking record.
How to Verify Building Permits and Construction Payments
Warrensburg’s building inspections and permits page explains that building permits must be issued before construction begins and directs permit questions to the city permit clerk at 660-747-9135. The city’s contractor licensing page separately explains that contractors must hold current business licenses, which city staff verify before issuing permits.
Before advancing money for a large materials order, customers can ask for an itemized agreement and documentation showing that the supplier has received the order. The Missouri Attorney General’s consumer complaint process allows people to submit disputes with supporting contracts, invoices and payment records.