Hadad Design and Construction, Inc. d/b/a Kitchen and Bath Décor and More Haddad Design and Construction, Inc.  Pennies on dollar or zero plus attorneys fees and costs. Scam. Orchestrated fraud. Houston Texas

Dear District Attorney’s Office of Harris County, Texas: it’s time to protect the public from these scammers, and in particular from Monica Marchetti, the ringleader who hides her criminal past using newer names not tied to her felony convictions.

The victims may today know her as Cheleste Haddad, or as "Monica Lawler" or "Monica Marchetti", or as Kitchen & Bath Decor & More, 1707 Durham Dr., Houston, TX 77007, or as someone who took your money, promised to do a renovation, who typically does the demolition, then never shows up again— and never returns the $, doing just enough (by plan ans scheme) to pretend “it’s a civil matter”, were anyone to complain to the District Attorney. This is exactly the MO over and over again. In fact, the victims are chosen to be well-to-do professionals, those who would prefer to not file a lawsuit so as to not harm their reputation since filing means they were taken like a sucker, in fact, many who have enough money that the loss of money can be weighed against the harm to their reputation for bad judgment in trusting these scammers. Many times they got 70, 80, 90, even 100% of the money up-front. (see stack of civil suits and summaries below).

There’s all the hallmarks of a deceptive business practice and civil fraud— including hiding her true identify that did time for this same scam in the form of a felony conviction–  back in 2008, so those doing due diligence would not know to stear clear. (You know how you know the hiding the old name is part of the scam? See the dozen plus lawsuits below, none of which plead the deliberate– (treble damages possible)-- hiding of the prior names such as “Marchetti” and “Lawler” so the unwitting public get suckered into trusting her and not finding her criminal record for ripping off homeowner and serving felony time for this. 

Real Name, Aliases, and Hidden Names so unwitting victims don’t catch on to the con.

Monica Cheleste /Cheleste/etc. Has many names– all the same person (none mentioned in any of the filed lawsuits so far):

Defendant Alias

True Name

GOVENDER, MONICA MARCHETTI (same date in 1968)

LAWLER, MONICA CHELESTE (same date in 1968)

MARCHETTI, MONICA (same date in 1968)

MARCHETTI, MONICA CHELESTE (same date in 1968)

Then there’s these other names she holds out or has held out to the public.

Celeste / Cheleste / Celest  for each of these. 

Monica Cheleste Marchetti

Monica Marchetti Govender

Monica Marchetti

Monica Lawler

Monica Cheleste Lawler

Monica Celeste Lawler

Monica Celest Lawler

Cheleste Haddad

Cheleste Hadad

Celeste Haddad

Celeste Hadad

Celest Haddad

Monica Albaner

Cheleste Albaner

Monica Khanouf

Cheleste Khanouf
(At least this many that have been found so far)

Cheleste is using a man’s last name, whether husband of the moment or otherwise, to hide her true name and the past that is discovered by having that detail when googling to see if someone is safe or a scammer.

Examples of generic-sounding company names she likes to use:

Monica (Cheleste) sets up lots of companies with generic broad hard-to-track, nonspecific names, to kind of blend in and not be too individualized.  Then she changes the name and address to not be anywhere too long where the pattern will get picked up upon.

The New Home Design Center, Inc.

The initial registered agent is an individual resident of the state whose name is set forth below: Name: Monica Marchetti

The business address of the registered agent and the registered office address is: Street Address: 14725 Katy Freeway Suite #20 Houston TX 77079

Director 1: Monica Marchetti Address: 14725 Katy Freeway Suite 20 Houston TX, USA 77079

Director 2: Yousef F Alnaber

Address: 14725 Katy Freeway Suite 20 Houston TX, USA 77079

Houston Custom Closet Designs Director Celeste Haddad

MARCHETTI INTERNATIONAL INC

Entity Type:  TEXAS DOMESTIC FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION

File Number:  0800985345

Filing State:  Texas (TX)

Filing Status:  Forfeited Existence

Filing Date:  June 1, 2008

Company Age:  15 Years, 6 Months

Registered Agent:  Monica Marchetti

10218 Westhimer Rd Suite A Houston, TX 77042

Principal Address:  10218 Westheimer Rd Ste A Houston, TX 77042

Not all are filed with the Secretary of State or County. Some are generic doing business as (d/b/a) name. These not publicly filed include:

• Momentum Décor and More

• AAA Tile and All

• Marchetti New Home Design Center

• Italia International

• Marchetti International

• Bella Casa International

• Petra International Stone

• Just counter tops

• Zara

• G&N Granite

The names are also sometimes appearing to be selected to be confusing with those of legitimate organizations. These are not named here to not harm the reputations of those who are not involved. 

Cheleste Haddad's Criminal Record spans many names and many years:

Criminal history summary: (Credit card fraud; felony theft)

Case (Cause) Nbr / Status

11046340101A-5/ Waiting Execution(W) MARCHETTI, MONICA CHELESTE

4/13/2007 

Court: 262

Temporary(T)

2/28/2008

$2,000

110463401010-3/ Complete(C)

MARCHETTI, MONICA CHELESTE

2/16/2007 | 7/3/2007

262

Disposed(D)

Disposed(DISP)7/12/2007

THEFT $1500-20K (F)

7/12/2007

045875501010-3/ Complete(C)

LAWLER, MONICA CHELESTE

9/17/1986 | 9/18/1986

230

Disposed(D)

Disposed(DISP)6/23/1987

$2,000

CRED CARD-PRESENT-OTHER (F)

10/28/1986

045875601010-3/ Complete(C)

LAWLER, MONICA CHELESTE

9/17/1986 | 9/18/1986

230

Disposed(D)

Disposed(DISP)6/23/1987

$2,000

CRED CARD-PRESENT-OTHER (F)

10/28/1986

The State of Texas v. Monica Cheleste Marchetti: In Case No. 1104634, Incident No./TRN 9038023744A001, in the 262nd District Court, Harris County (Houston), TX– Monica Cheleste Marchetti plead guilty to Theft $1500-20,000, a State Jail Felony, and was sentenced by Judge Mike Anderson on 7/12/2007 to confinement for 7 months in the State Jail Division, TDCJ. This is known as a felony conviction.

The felony for which Monica (You know her as “Cheleste”) served time fits perfectly the MO of all her scamming to this day: Affiant Spoke to the Complainant who stated that on January 14, 2007, he gave the defendant a check in payment in advance for the defendant installing granite countertops in the kitchen of complainant’s home in Houston TX. The complainant advised that defendant cashed the check on January 15, 2007 and that NO WORK WAS EVER DONE. (Same thing as always with this fraudster). She advised that his money would be returned on February 9, 2007.  The defendant never returned any of the money to the complainant.  The defendant was placed into a lineup with five individuals of similar characteristics and the complainant was able to make a positive identification of the defendant. 

Bail was set in a publicly filed instrument for “Marchetti, Monica Cheleste” signed by Lawyler, Monica Cheleste” as sureties. That instrument states, “The defendant has been charged with a felony offense.”

The signatures are by the same person on February 20, 2007 as follows:

Principal
Marchetti, Monica Cheleste 

Cash Depositor/Surety
Lawler, Monica Cheleste

The instrument includes defendant’s thumbprint. 

Receipt was issued on 2/19/07

Turns out Monica was not honest with the bond company either. She “failed to appear in this court as required”. On January 28, 2008, Monica the default judgment and Judgement of Forfeiture was made and noticed to this “last known address”: Cheleste Marchetti, of 2757 Briargrove #409, Houston, TX 77057

The Filing “110463401010 - The State of Texas vs. MARCHETTI, MONICA CHELESTE (Court 262): States the following description:

Credit Card Felony   045875601010 - The State of Texas vs. LAWLER, MONICA CHELESTE (Court 230)

06/23/1987

JUDGMENT

DEFERRED ADJUDICATION TERMINATED SNU: 999 06/25/87

06/23/1987

JUDG OFFENSE

CRED CARD-PRESENT-OTHER LEVEL F3 06/25/87

06/23/1987

RECORDED VOLUME 0047 PAGE 0126 APP A MINUTES JM 06/25/87

10/28/1986

ORDER
DEFERRED ADJUDICATION OF GUILT SNU: 999 11/03/86

10/28/1986
PENALTY: PROBATION 2 YEARS ENDING 10/27/88 11/03/86

10/28/1986
RECORDED: VOLUME 0047 PAGE 0126 APP A MINUTES JM 11/03/86

10/28/1986
OFFENSE CRED CARD-PRESENT-OTHER LEVEL F3 11/03/86

09/23/1986 SERVICE ACTIVITY -- BY PLACING DEF IN JAIL ON 09/18/86 09/24/86

Known Associates: People she works with in perpetrating the common scheme and conning the public:

Elias Hadad

Elias Haddad

Johnathan Neil 

Adrien Dashner

Adriana Bianca Govender

Adriana Dashner

In fact, Cheleste has been known to demand that all phones are handed to her at meetings to prevent recording and she also will demand to make calls using phones of others, presumably, so as to-- in her own mind-- limit her provable exposure.

Settled but shows the MO in 2012:

101299704/16/2012 CONTRACT - CONSUMER/COMMERCIAL/DEBT

THUTHIEN h*o VS. MONICA KHANOUF ET AL. Closed OTHER OTHER

Other cases: 

840814 Closed 06/20/2005 Defendant MARCHETTI MONICA MAIN ST AQUISTN CORP VS. MARCHETTI MONICA

949681 Closed 10/19/2009 Defendant MARCHETTI MONICA CHELESTE COPPERLEAF INVESTMENT LLC VS. MARCHETTI MONICA CHELESTE

Unknown what she sued over

949681-002 Closed 10/19/2009 Plaintiff MARCHETTI MONICA CHELESTE MARCHETTI MONICA CHELESTE VS MCCLURE CHAD

Current Litigation All the same thing– took the $, did no work, did in credibly shoddy work, and most commonly, did the demolition and nothing more. Many times she got 70, 80, 90, even 100% of the money up-front. (Legit contractors get progress payments as work is done. Legit contractors also maintain trust accounts and avoid commingling or self-dealing with client money).

Hey, District Attorney, dust off the Property Code, here you go: Sec. 162.032.  PENALTIES.  (a)  A trustee who misapplies trust funds amounting to $500 or more in violation of this chapter commits a Class A misdemeanor.

(b)  A trustee who misapplies trust funds amounting to $500 or more in violation of this chapter, with intent to defraud, commits a felony of the third degree.

(c)  A trustee who fails to establish or maintain a construction account in violation of Section 162.006 or fails to establish or maintain an account record for the construction account in violation of Section 162.007 commits a Class A misdemeanor.

Recent Civil Cases: Here’s some of these above cited criminal acts alleged in this civil cases of consumers (and their lawyers) hoping to get some $ back, when in reality, it’s the District Attorney who needs to put a stop to this common scheme or crime and fraud. (Someone who takes the $ and maybe settles with prior victims using new $ from fresh victims is engaging in a Ponzi Scheme). 

In case the above did not come out clearly enough, here is the raw data via copy and paste :

 Harris County Style Cases Attorney for Plaintiff Amount in Controversy Third-Party Bank

1. Cause No. 2023-17584; Eric D. Drymalla, Shasta Roca & Drymalla Family–  Synchrony & Living Trust vs Hadad Design and Construction, Inc. d/b/a Kitchen and Bath (no work performed) Momentum Décor and More; In the 281st Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas 

(Filed 3/20/2023) 

Paid $177,400 (cash & loans)

2. Cause No. 2023-04023; Milagro Ayala vs Haddad Design and Construction, Inc. and Celeste Haddad; In the 55th Judicial District Court; Harris County, Texas (only demo’ed)
(Filed 1/23/2023)
Paid by consumer $53,400 (cash & loan) Third Party Bank: Synchrony

3. Cause No. 2022-81188; Roxanne Castanon vs Elisa Hadad, Kitchen and Bath Décor and More, Hadad Design and Construction, Inc.; In the 157th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas (Filed 12/15/2022) (no work performed)

4. Cause No. 2022-80996; Maxxine Roopchand vs Hadad Design and Construction, Inc. d/b/a Kitchen and Bath Décor and More; In the 55th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas
(Filed 12/14/2022)
$ Unknown (paid in full & not performed)

5. Cause No. 2022-68322; Jason & Karen Gomez vs Hadad Design and Construction, Inc. d/b/a Kitchen and Bath Décor and More; In the 189th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas (Filed 10/18/2022)
Paid by consumer $29,000 –  (no work performed) Third Party Bank: Synchrony

6. Cause No. 2022-16792; Melanie Farage vs Hadad Design and Construction, Inc. d/b/a Kitchen and Bath Décor and More and Celeste Haddad; In the 80th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas (Filed 3/21/2022)
Paid by consumer $34,400 (cash & credit cards) (no work performed)

7. Cause No. 2022-09671; Cynthia McCorkle vs Hadad Design and Construction, Inc.; In the 270th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas  (Filed 2/16/2022) since May 2021)
(no functional kitchen)
Paid by comsumer: $30,900

8. Cause No. 2021-42751; Teresa West vs Hadad Design and Construction, Inc.; In the 165th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas (Filed 7/15/2021) 
Paid by consumer: $10,675 (work not complete)
Third party Bank: EnerBank

9. Cause No. 2021-21251; Sandra and Huey Fontento vs. Elias Haddad, Shelly M. Davis-Smith 

Hadad Design and Construction, Inc. d/b/a Kitchen and Bath Décor; In the 129th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas
(Filed 4/9/2021)
(no work performed)
Paid by consumer: $17,105
Third Party Bank: EnerBank

10. Cause No. 2020-49195; Laura Bowman vs Hadad Design and Construction, Inc. d/b/a Kitchen and Bath Décor and More; In the 151st Judicial District Court Harris County Texas (Filed 8/17/2020)
(defective work)
Paid by consumer: $28,369.68

11. Cause No. 2020-16353; Kim Dahmen vs Kitchen and Bath Décor and More; In the 61st Judicial District Court; Harris County, Texas
(Filed 3/11/2020)
(defective work)
Paid by consumer: $35,087

Montgomery County Style Cases Attorney for Plaintiff Amount in Controversy Third-Party Bank
12. Cause No. 23-04-05444; Gwyn Von Heeder vs. Hadad Design and Construction Inc. Charles C. Hunter d/b/a Kitchen and Bath Decor and More; In the County Court at Law No. 6, Montgomery County, Texas
(no work performed)
Paid by consumer: $52,173.25

13. Cause No. 22-05-05860; Andrea Martin and Kiera Taliaferro vs. Hadad Design and Construction Inc. d/b/a Kitchen and Bath Decor and More; In the 457th Judicial District Court; Montgomery County, Texas
(no work performed)
Paid by consumer: $56,750

(This can’t be all the cases, these are just the ones found searching a few months ago. These are not all the victims either. No one has this many actual civil suits without having scammed countless others too)
See this article:

https://setexasrecord.com/stories/639171529-suit-home-remodeling-contractor-paid-more-than-50-000-failed-to-complete-project says, "Suit: home remodeling contractor paid more than $50,000 failed to complete project”.

The only way to stop this fraud is a long prison sentence. These victims will simply never get back their money.  How do you think they pay back the victims? Betcha anything it's by taking new suckers for their money. That's a Ponzi Scheme. 

To see Monica Marchetti lie to your face, and how emphatically she can deny responsibility, see Judge Alex. Season 6, Episode 28, "Butler vs. Marchetti", Episode aired Oct 13, 2010.  There she literally expresses that she opens new businesses with new names constantly and to remain competitive, in response to Judge Alex who says from the bench that such actions are typical of a scammer.