04/10/2026
🚨🛠️HOME IMPROVEMENT FRAUD🪛🚨
Over the course of several months, a joint investigation between the Altoona Police Department, Allegheny Township Police Department, and Hollidaysburg Borough Police Department identified John B. Tipton II as a suspect in a plethora of violations relating to defrauding clients of home improvement. Tipton, the owner/operator of Tipton Construction in the City of Altoona, is alleged to have taken advanced payments on multiple contracts which he failed to complete, done work which required correction due to structural instability, stole a check from a customer, utilized a customer’s card for payment without their authorization, and threatened a customer when he was told they would contact police. In total, five (5) different instances of fraud related charges are alleged throughout the City of Altoona, Allegheny Township, and Hollidaysburg Borough. The total amount alleged to have been fraudulently received by Tipton is in excess of $30,000.
A search warrant was executed in relation to the fraud cases, where 2 guns and multiple controlled substances were also found.
On 4/8/2026 The investigation culminated with a warrant being filed charging Tipton with the following offenses:
Corrupt Organizations (F1), Persons Not to Possess Fi****ms (F2), Home Improvement Fraud (F3), Access Device Fraud (F3), Theft by Unlawful Taking (F3, x1), Intimidation of Victim (F3), Theft by Extortion (F3), Theft by Deception (F3), Home Improvement Fraud (M1), Theft by Unlawful Taking (M1), Obstruction (M2), Possession of a Controlled Substance (M), Possession of Small Amount of Ma*****na, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On 4/9/2026, Tipton was arraigned and bail was set at $100,000 straight cash. He was then remanded to Blair County Prison, where he eventually posted this bail.
A Special thank you to the Blair County District Attorney’s Office, Allegheny Township Police Department, and the Hollidaysburg Borough Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
