Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden announced the indictment of six defendants charged in a home improvement scam that targeted Delaware seniors.
On May 28, Biden’s office secured a 12-count indictment charging six individuals with Home Improvement Fraud, Theft, and Conspiracy. The indictment followed a year-long investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Senior Protection Initiative, Wilmington Police, and New Castle County Police.
The investigation, which ultimately linked four New Castle County victims over the age of 62 to the defendants, determined that over a two-year period from August, 2010 to November, 2012, the defendants made unsolicited door-to-door visits to victims’ homes offering to provide home repairs, some of which were unnecessary.
The indictment alleges that little or no work was completed by the defendants. Three of the four victims were solicited by the defendants multiple times. One victim ultimately paid more than $100,000 to the defendants, and together the four victims paid the defendants more than $125,000.
The defendants and their charges are:
· Alexander Patterson, 46, charged with Home Improvement Fraud (4 counts), Theft of a Senior Over $100,000 (1 count), Theft of a Senior Over $1,500 (3 counts), and Conspiracy (4 counts);
· Alexander Williamson, 27, charged with Home Improvement Fraud (3 counts), Theft of a Senior Over $100,000 (1 count), Theft of a Senior Over $1,500 (2 counts), and Conspiracy (3 counts);
· Robert Gregg, 52, charged with one count each of Home Improvement Fraud, Theft of a Senior Over $100,000, and Conspiracy;
· Frances Williamson, 47, charged with Home Improvement Fraud (3 counts), Theft of a Senior Over $100,000 (1 count), Theft of a Senior Over $1,500 (2 counts), and Conspiracy (3 counts);
· Billie Jean Robson, 27, charged with one count each of Home Improvement Fraud, Theft of a Senior Over $1,500, and Conspiracy;
· Catherine Robson, 27, charged with one count each of Home Improvement Fraud, Theft of a Senior Over $1,500, and Conspiracy
The defendants are transient residents who have no permanent address but are believed to be currently living in the tri-state area of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
During the investigation, arrest warrants were issued for all six defendants and three defendants were arrested earlier this spring: Robert Gregg was arrested on April 2, 2013 and released on $3,000 unsecured bail; Frances Williamson was arrested on February 20, 2013 and again on March 7, 2013 and was released on $13,000 unsecured bail, and Billie Jean Robson was arrested on March 25, 2013 and released on $4,000 secured bail. Arrest warrants remain pending for the three additional defendants.
Biden urged anyone aware of a senior being victimized by neglect, physical abuse, or financial exploitation to call the Attorney General’s Consumer hotline at 1-800-220-5424 or Delaware’s Adult Protective Services hotline at 1-800-223-9074 and directed those who suspect a case of senior abuse in a Delaware-licensed residential facility to call the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Hotline at (302) 577-5000 or the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection at 1-877-453-0012.
