Home Improvement Scam Cost Homeowners Over $40K; Man Arrested: West Hartford Police

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A 35-year-old man was arrested on Nov. 5 and charged in connection with a home improvement scam that cost homeowners over $40,000, according to West Hartford Police.

Richard Kiely, of Bloomfield, was charged with two counts of second-degree larceny, two counts of impersonating a registered home improvement contractor, and two counts of notices in sales agreement.

In March of 2025, West Hartford police began an investigation into two possible home improvement scams involving Imperial Construction and Masonry, police said in a news release.

"In both cases, the homeowners hired Imperial Construction and Masonry, paid a sum of money up front and the jobs were never completed," police said. "In total, the homeowners had paid Imperial Construction and Masonry $40,500."

After a "thorough and extensive" investigation, police secured two arrest warrants for Kiely, who was identified as a suspect, police said.

Kiely was able to post his combined $38,000 surety bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Hartford Superior Court on Nov. 19.

Anyone with more information on the case, or who has experienced a similar incident, is asked to contact the WHPD through the department's tip line/email at 860-570-8969, or whpdtips@westhartfordct.gov.