Mass AG Hammers Home Repair Contractor For Allegedly Pocketing Customer Deposits Without Commencing, Completing Work

The Massachusetts Attorney General's office recently announced:

• Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a judgment [...] against Dino DiStefano, 41, of Boston, a former home improvement contractor who scammed Massachusetts homeowners by fraudulently advertising that he was a registered and insured home improvement contractor in order to persuade consumers to pay him substantial deposits for home improvement work. The judgment [...] permanently prohibits DiStefano from providing home improvement services or from accepting any monies from consumers for home improvement services [and] further orders DiStefano to pay $29,634.68 in restitution to Massachusetts consumers who paid him deposits and to pay $20,000 in civil penalties to the Commonwealth.

• The Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit in November 2007 [...] against DiStefano alleging that at least 21 homeowners paid over $145,000 for work that he failed to commence or complete. At that time, the Attorney General’s Office also entered into a settlement agreement with Robert Cluxton and Bank of America and obtained $143,000 for Massachusetts homeowners as a result of their dealings with DiStefano and his business activities.

For more, see AG Coakley Obtains $50,000 Judgment Against Home Improvement Contractor.