A Lancaster County man has been charged with getting $11,000 from a Berks resident in a home improvement fraud.
Michael Stanley, 38, of East Earl remained free to await a hearing after arraignment Thursday night before District Judge Michael D. Kaufman in Reading Central Court.
Caernarvon Township police charged Stanely with felony counts under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act.
It’s the second time Stanley has been arrested by a southern Berks police department on home improvement fraud charges. In August, Brecknock Township police charged Stanley with felony theft counts. He was free on unsecured bail while awaiting a hearing in that case.
According to the criminal complaint:
The victim told a Caervaron policeman he had hired Stanley in May to perform driveway work after receiving a quote for $12,000. He paid Stanley a $7,000 deposit.
Two days later, Stanley returned and told the homeowner it would be better to repave the entire driveway for a total cost of $21,000, requiring an additional $4,000 deposit. The victim paid that amount by check.
Stanley told the homeowner he would return within a few weeks to begin the job but never did. The victim tried calling him several times, receiving only three return calls before the communication stopped completely, police said. He has not heard from Stanley in months.
Based on the investigation, police obtained a warrant for Stanley’s arrest.