Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon announced today that a 29-year-old Ballston Spa man who bilked homeowners out of tens of thousands of dollars and never performed the jobs he was hired to do is heading to state prison.

Zaire Daniels was sentenced by the Honorable William Little to serve two and a third to seven years in state prison after pleading guilty to two counts of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree.

From the fall of 2024 up until his latest arrest by Albany Police in December 2025, Daniels went door-to-door across the Capital District promising to do exterior renovations and outdoor projects in exchange for cash. He entered into several handwritten agreements with at least 13 victims across Albany, Bethlehem, Guilderland and Colonie. He asked for money up front and then never performed the agreed upon projects.

Colonie Police were able to charge Daniels in one instance and then located a number of the other victims involved, but Daniels absconded and failed to show up for his court date.

Daniels targeted many elderly residents, including one woman who was 101 years old. Daniels was ordered to pay restitution of $32,689 to the 13 residents he scammed.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Hannah Merges of the Street Crimes Unit.