Main Line contractor allegedly took thousands, left jobs unfinished | Investigation

PAOLI, Pa. (WPVI) -- A Main Line contractor is the focus of an Action News investigation.

He is accused of taking money, not finishing jobs, and using alleged stolen funds. But his victims say he is still able to drive around in pricey cars.

The contractor's name is Mike Monaghan. He's catered to those with money on the Main Line. His alleged victims say he played the part, but when it came time to build and finish projects, he didn't deliver.

Kyle Allen told the Investigative Team he began building his dream home in Gladwyne in the summer of 2023, and two years later, it remained unfinished.

"To me, it seems like he took about 70% of the budget and he delivered about 15-20% of the actual project," Allen said.

Allen said his contract price was for $1.2 million, and he estimates he's paid and lost about $500K in unfinished work.

"All the plumbing, all the electrical and all the HVAC had to be ripped out because it wasn't code compliant and he just did it all wrong," he said.

Allen said simply, the builder, Mike Monaghan, always complained of being short on money, so he continued to pay, trusting Monaghan would deliver. But red flag after red flag emerged.

"A subcontractor came up to me and said, 'Mike's not paying me,'" Allen recalled.

Allen said what's troubling is that Monaghan would drive around in a $150K Hummer and make social media posts referring to a Ferrari that read "My new baby finally arrived."

In court papers, Monaghan denied Allen's allegations.

David McIntyre, of Havertown, also shared his building troubles with the Investigative Team.

"I said it's going to be easy for me to win when I show him you standing over a Ferrari telling everybody your baby has just come it. So yeah, it was pretty maddening," he said.

McIntryre said he hired Monaghan for a renovation of his Havertown home in 2024 after finding him through a contracting sourcing website.

"This project has been probably the most stressful thing," he said.

Allen and McIntyre are among a dozen homeowners and businesses now suing Monaghan.

Court records allege he used the seal and signature of a dead architect for a Malvern renovation, allegedly leading to a homeowner losing $120,000.

Another client accused him of concocting bogus change orders or upgrades and creating fraudulent invoices.

And at one point, he changed his business name, dropping the "G" in his last name.

"I suspect that he has tried to change his name because if somebody googles him, they're going to see all these complaints and things like that," said Allen.

Investigative reporter Chad Pradelli went to Monaghan's Paoli home to get answers and hear his side of the story.

In the driveway, there was a Range Rover with a license plate that reads "YOLO1," which stands for you only live once.

He didn't comment and shut the door.

Monaghan's legal troubles go beyond civil cases.

In 2015, he pleaded guilty to forgery and theft related to obtaining prescription drugs. Earlier this year, he also pleaded guilty to providing false information on a gun purchase application. He was also charged with DUI and writing bad checks. Those charges are pending.

Allen said he cut off contact with Monaghan, but he's repeatedly shown up in front of his home, which he captured on security video. He also shared a text that Monaghan sent him that read in part: "Karma will have us meet again."

"He's saying that to intimidate me. He's saying that to threaten me. And the fact that he's literally showing up at my house," said Allen.

Both Allen and McIntyre filed complaints with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office. A spokesperson could not comment on whether it has an open investigation.