A Nebraska man who swindled two elderly east-metro residents out of thousands of dollars in a home improvement scam was sentenced Monday to 90 days in jail and ordered to pay $12,800 in restitution.

Scott Monroe Miller, 49, pleaded guilty Nov. 16 to felony theft by swindle. Ramsey County District Judge Michael DeCourcy gave him credit for the seven days he has spent in custody and ordered him to begin serving the rest of the sentence immediately.

According to the charges, Miller received checks totaling $14,300 from a 90-year-old Roseville man and $8,750 from an 82-year-old St. Paul woman after entering their homes in August and September and coercing them into letting him do some repair projects. Police determined that Miller did not do much of the work.

The swindle was discovered quickly enough that police arrested Miller before he could cash the checks he received from the second victim.

At his hearing Monday, Miller was ordered to have no contact with either victim.

PAT PHEIFER