Baldwin Contractor Facing Theft, Other Charges

BALDWIN, PA - A Baldwin contractor faces numerous criminal charges after allegedly taking thousands of dollars from people for work that either wasn’t started or ever completed back in 2014.

Bryan Berkich, 50, of Travis Drive, was charged in connection with three separate cases, according to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office:

• Berkich allegedly took money for work he didn’t finish or materials he never purchased for a project on the North Side. He was charged with four counts of theft by deception, three counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received and one count of receiving stolen property.

• For a residential renovation project on the South Side, Berkich allegedly submitted invoices for work he falsely claimed was finished, then wrote checks from a frozen account when the customer demanded a refund. He faces five counts of passing bad checks, five counts of forgery and one count of theft by deception and criminal attempt.

• In the third case, Berkich allegedly took $45,000 from a relative to supposedly purchase a home he intended to flip. Instead, the complaint states that Berkich deposited the money into his business account and then wrote checks and made personal withdrawls. He was charged with theft by unlawful taking.

Berkich faces a July 31 preliminary hearing on the charges.

Photo by Tar Sands Blockade via Creative Commons.