TORONTO — A Durham-area contractor has been arrested for fraud after a Global News investigation uncovered complaints of services paid for, but never completed.
Toronto police say Maurizio Ercolani, 55, of Bolton, was arrested last Thursday and charged with two counts of fraud.
In July and October 2015, Global News reported on public complaints about Ercolani, who advertised home repair services.
At the time, Eroclani had no explanation for his business practices but insisted he was not a thief.
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Ercolani faces charges relating to money paid by Nicolina Squillace for work on her roof. Squillace says Ercolani accepted money, promised to come back, but didn’t.
She’s says she’s glad Ercolani has been arrested.
“It was a bit of a surprise, but I’m glad to see the police are doing the job,” said Squillace, who says she’s out more than $3,700.
“He needs to be dealt with, he’s hurting too many people.”
Squillace said the experience has left her suspicious of all contractors
Many other consumers came forward to Global News complaining that they had paid Ercolani for work that hadn’t been done. Vaughan resident Teresa Ursomarzo said she paid Ercolani $18,000 for a project that’s gone unfinished for three years.
“I gave him 95 per cent of the money and he did 50 per cent of the work,” she said.