By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Eduardo “Eddie” Chavez was arrested and indicted for theft last year, accused of keeping money from customer Fred Erickson.
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Chavez avoided criminal charges by paying Erickson back in full and completing a diversion program in April. But customers are still coming forward with stories of paying up front, then never seeing their projects — or their money — again.
Customer describes delays
Clyde Tull hired Chavez, owner of Chavez Since 67, to re-upholster a sofa and loveseat in November 2025. He paid $4,700 up front by check.
Like other customers 13 News talked to, Tull said Chavez insisted the check not be made out to the business.
“No, he asked specifically a couple of times to make sure the check was made out to him personally and not to his business,” Tull said.
“He’s a good salesman, he can be charming and friendly and all of that,” Tull said.
The project’s February start date came and went. His wife, Fairly Tull, said the excuses piled up.
“Delay this time, ‘oh yeah, I’ll do it now.’ And now never comes. That is exhausting,” Fairly Tull said.
Other customers report similar experiences
“I find it appalling that he’s still in business. I don’t know how many years of doing this to people,” said Maria Thayer, a customer.
Maria Thayer and her husband Tom said they also paid for work they never received. In July 2024, they paid Chavez $10,000 to make and install curtains using fabric Maria provided. The curtains never came.
The Thayers sued and won a default judgment in March 2025. Tom said Chavez has paid them just $250 since — a single payment made around the time of his arrest in the Erickson case.
“So he did, he paid us $250. So I said wow, this is encouraging. And then the next month went by and there’s no payment,” Tom Thayer said.
Case referred between agencies
Tull took his case to the Pima County Attorney’s Office in March — weeks before Chavez completed his diversion program — hoping prosecutors would file new charges.
“And he knew all about Mr. Chavez. He said, ‘Why don’t you talk to his lawyer?’” Tull said.
Tull said the prosecutor, Nathan Leonardo, told him to contact Chavez’s attorney first, then try the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Because Tull lives in Tucson, PCSD sent him to Tucson police, who turned him away, calling it a civil matter.
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“I think he just assumes we’re not going to pursue it. I think he may even know the police department has bigger fish to fry and they’re not going to pursue it,” Tull said.
Tull didn’t give up. In June, he went to Marana police.
“And there in the Marana Police Department is a Detective Vincent Jenkins. Who is a wonderful, wonderful police officer,” Tull said.
Detective Jenkins is the same investigator who built the original case against Chavez in the Erickson matter. Jenkins told 13 News he reviewed Tull’s documentation and raised the possibility of new charges with prosecutors.
Tull said both Jenkins and the prosecutor pushed Chavez to pay him and a separate, unnamed customer back to avoid facing new criminal charges. Two sources confirmed to 13 News that Chavez made the payments.
“They finally persuaded him that he should pay. So he did,” Tull said.
Money returned, no new charges filed
In July, Tull got his $4,700 back.
According to the police report, “Probable cause no longer exists for criminal offenses. This case is now closed.”
No charges were filed. 13 News asked prosecutors why Tull wasn’t directed to Marana police from the start. They declined an interview but sent a statement:
“A second victim coming forward would not prevent us from filing separate charges. Any case investigated and referred to us by law enforcement would be reviewed for potential charges. We would not file charges based solely on a call from a potential victim but would refer that person to a police agency so that the matter could be investigated. Our files indicate that is what happened in this situation. ”
13 News also reached out to Chavez and his attorney. Chavez agreed to meet off the record, then promised an interview. Minutes later he changed his mind and left, caught on camera.
Chavez sent 13 News a written statement in the final hours before deadline:
“I am deeply troubled that we have a small number of customers who are upset with delays to their orders and some of whom may still be owed refunds. Even just having one upset customer is one too many. I will do everything in my power to resolve the issues and complaints with these customers.”
Tull said it took weeks of pressure from police — not Chavez — to get his money back. Tull said he wants other customers to know what he went through.
Chavez Since 67 has been suspended by the Better Business Bureau for failing to address complaints. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office won’t say whether it’s investigating Chavez, but customers say they’ve filed complaints there too. If you feel you’re the victim of consumer fraud, report it at azag.gov/consumer.
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