Contractor Arrested After Taking $1,000 and Failing to Do the Job

PORTSMOUTH, RI—A Portsmouth resident paid a contractor from Ocean City Drywall to do a job, but Michael Stephen Cesaroni, 30, of Cumberland, took the $1,000 and never did the work, police allege.

Cesaroni was charged on Dec. 1 with a felony for obtaining money (less than $1,500) under false pretenses.

Police contacted Cesaroni on Oct. 6 and advised him to "return the money sooner" rather than later. The contractor said he needed until the following Monday to pay up.

When police called on Oct. 13, the contractor still had not made good.

According to the police report, Cesaroni cashed the client's check on Sept. 19 and said the materials would be delivered by Sept. 21, but the materials never arrived. Meanwhile, the lumber company denied such an order had been placed.

When the client asked for a refund, the contractor said the materials had already been ordered. Then on Oct. 3, he texted the client to say he wanted to start the job right away.

The client asked again for a refund.

Police on Oct. 13 obtained a court warrant for Cesaroni's arrest. State police picked him up on the warrant, and Portsmouth police drove to the Scituate Barracks to take him into custody. He was arraigned at the Portsmouth police station and was due in court on Dec. 8.