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Virginia Contractor Charged Customers For Patios, Decks He Never Built: Reports
A contractor in Northern Virginia pled guilty to contractor fraud after he took money from customers and never built their decks and patios, multiple reports said.
Ryan Vanover, 40, delayed work for customers in Stafford, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and Fauquier counties, as he claimed his father was sick, InsideNova.com reported.
Though he did not complete the deck and patio projects, over two dozen homeowners paid down payments, Fauquier.com said.
Here are Vanover's charges and punishments in each Northern Virginia county, as listed detailed by InsideNOVA.com:
Fairfax County: V…
Superstorm Sandy Contractors Sentenced To NJ Prison For Theft: Prosecutor
Two contractors have been sentenced to New Jersey state prison for defrauding homeowners for repairs after Superstorm Sandy on the Jersey Shore, authorities said.
John Bishop, 57, of Celebration, Florida, was sentenced on Friday, July 15 to four years in state prison for theft by failure to make required disposition, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Bishop worked 11 years as a Harrison police officer in Hudson County, before retiring in 2006, according to NJ Advance Media.
Paul Rueda, 50, of San Diego, Texas, was sentenced to five years in state prison on the…
Superstorm Sandy Contractors Admit Ripping Off Homeowners: Prosecutor
A pair of out-of-state contractors has admitted to stealing from customers whose homes were damaged by Superstorm Sandy, authorities said.
On Friday, May 6,, John Bishop, 57, of Celebration, Florida, pleaded guilty to theft by failure to make required disposition, they said.
On Monday, May 9, Bishop’s business partner, Paul Rueda, 50, of San Diego, Texas, pleaded guilty to the same charge, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Both defendants’ guilty pleas relate to their stealing funds through contractor businesses they operated between October 201…
Burglars Posing As Contractors Nabbed After Lyndhurst Police Pursuit Into Newark Ends In Crash
Two burglars who tried to blend in as home-repair contractors in Lyndhurst were arrested following a police pursuit that ended when they crashed a stolen commercial truck in Newark, authorities said.
Credit for the capture goes to area residents, Lyndhurst police said.
The driver, Nathaniel Barreto, 39, of Newark took off on foot after the crash but was quickly grabbed, Detective Lt. Vincent Auteri said.
Passenger Philip Zaragoza, 41, also of Newark, said he was having withdrawal from using heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine and was quickly taken to an area hospital, he said.
Officer Anthony G…
Paterson Family Finally Refunded $2,000 From No-Show Roofer
A local media outlet was able to return $2,000 to a Paterson family whose contractor bailed on them time and time again.
Lina Aguilar, who is battling Lupus, first hired the contractor last year to repair her leaking roof and gutters, ABC7 reports. She gave him $2,000 -- but he didn't show on the start date -- or at all.
Aguilar demanded a refund, but when she got it, the check bounced, according to ABC7.
After months of trying to track down the contractor, the news outlet finally was able to locate the contractor, whose business had since closed down, returning Auilar's $2,000 to her in c…
