Contractor Who Defrauded Wrightstown Homeowner Gets Jail: DA

A Bucks County contractor who admitted he cheated at least 10 homeowners out of more than $190,000 while operating illegally has been sentenced to serve five to 10 years in state prison, the Bucks County District Attorney's office has announced.

Common Pleas Court Judge James M. McMaster on Friday also ordered Marc Haworth, 42, to serve a consecutive 25 years of probation and to pay $191,404 in restitution to the victims, who are residents of Northampton, Middletown, Wrightstown, Falls, Bristol and Solebury Townships.

Haworth, of Fairless Hills, is the owner of Pool & Patio Specialist, LLC, and the former owner of three other companies. In addition to defrauding the homeowners, he acknowledged that he had fraudulently obtained state-required insurance and registration for his companies, the District Attorney's office said.

He pleaded guilty in October to 30 separate criminal counts of home improvement fraud, deceptive business practices, theft by deception and insurance fraud.

The District Attorney's office said Haworth admitted to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in payments for home improvement projects that he never completed. The homeowners had to pay additional fees to other contractors to fix and finish the work that Haworth started, authorities said.

Projects included swimming pool construction and upgrades, fencing, garage and shed construction, and roofing and paving work.

So far, Haworth has repaid only one of the homeowners. The rest are owed amounts ranging from more than $55,000 to less than $1,500, totaling $191,404.52, according to Deputy District Attorney Alan J. Garabedian, who prosecuted the case.

Authorities urge anyone who believes he or she has been defrauded by Haworth or his companies over the past five years to contact local police.

PHOTO: Bucks County District Attorney