Updated: November 9, 2011 3:58PM

A federal jury on Wednesday convicted two men of engaging in a home-repair fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims on Chicago’s South and West sides.

Six victims testified John J. and Daniel J. Sullivan swindled them each out of tens of thousands of dollars by promising to perform expensive home repairs, convincing them to refinance their homes to pay the costs, and then failing to perform or complete the projects, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

They were found guilty of two counts of wire fraud each after a two-week trial in U.S. District Court.

John Sullivan, 49, of Surprise, Ariz., and formerly of Northbrook; and Daniel Sullivan, 45, of Niles, remain in federal custody without bond and face up to of 20 years in prison each, the U.S. attorney’s office said. They also face a potential forfeiture judgment of $1.2 million in proceeds from the scheme, as well as mandatory restitution and a fine of $250,000 each.

According to evidence at trial, the Sullivans owned and operated a series of home repair and home remodeling businesses: New Look Home Services, J & D Home Services, A-Z Home Services, and Contract Services, which were based in Chicago and Niles.

In 2004, the city of Chicago obtained a permanent injunction against New Look Home Services and John Sullivan, prohibiting them from participating in the home repair industry in the city, the U.S. attorneys office said.

Between 2002 and 2006, the defendants and others preyed upon elderly homeowners by fraudulently convincing them to hire J&D to perform costly home repairs and to pay for them by refinancing their homes, prosecutors said.

After falsely representing that they would perform expensive repairs or remodeling, they failed to complete the promised repairs, instead engaging in a series of stalling tactics to avoid doing additional.

U.S. District Judge Blanche Manning has scheduled sentencing for noon on Jan. 26, 2012.

Another co-defendant, Patrick R. Rooney, 53, of Northbrook, an employee of J&D, was severed from the trial.