UPPER GWYNEDD TOWNSHIP, PA — A home contractor who police called a "career conman" was arrested in Montgomery County after defrauding multiple clients around the area, according to authorities.
Michael J. Mazer, 50, of Philadelphia, was contracted by an Upper Gwynedd resident in Aug. 2024 to complete stucco work on their home.
Mazer charged $16,000 for the project. He then also convinced the victims to take out an additional $16,000 loan in order to pay for supplies he said he needed to complete the work, according to police.
Mazer promised to pay back that loan but never did, pocketing $32,000 in total from the project, authorities said.
Shortly thereafter, investigators said they discovered a similar incident involving Mazer in East Norriton. In that instance, Mazer received a large sum of money from the victim to buy and install appliances, but he never provided the agreed upon appliances, police said.
Authorities believe Mazer was trying to sell the appliances he'd promised the East Norriton resident in order to pay back some of the funds in Upper Gwynedd.
"Both departments gave Mazer multiple opportunities to pay what he owed the victims or turn himself in to face the charges," Upper Gwynedd Police shared. "Each opportunity was thwarted by Mazer’s own failure to do either, ultimately resulting in being taken into custody by arrest warrant."
Mazer faces charges separately in the two cases. He has been charged with writing bad checks, receiving stolen property, theft by deception, deceptive business practices, financial exploitation of an older adult, and related counts. He was released on $5,000 bail on May 6.
Preliminary hearings are set for May 14 and May 18.
Police urge any residents who may have had any business dealings with Mazer to come forth. Call the Upper Gwynedd police department at (215) 699-5862.
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