A Berks County man previously sentenced to probation for home improvement fraud in three counties faces new fraud counts after Mohnton police accused him of ripping off two borough homeowners to the tune of nearly $11,000.
Joseph Duerr, 39, whose last known address was listed as the 2800 block of Sturbridge Court in Spring Township, was arrested Monday by members of the warrants division of the Berks County sheriff’s office.
Arrest details were unavailable.
Duerr was committed to the county prison in lieu of $100,000 bail after arraignment Monday night before District Judge Dean R. Patton in Reading Central Court.
In both cases he’s charged with home improvement fraud, theft by deception and deceptive business practices.
Duerr has pleaded guilty to similar counts in Lehigh County in 2019, Lancaster County in 2020 and Berks County in 2017, according to court records.
He was given years of probation in each of those cases, with the stipulation that he must pay restitution to the victims in full during his probationary period.
Mohnton police Chief Eric Pistilli said he was dispatched Sept. 16 to investigate reports of contractor fraud against two homeowners with adjoining backyards.
Pistilli provided the following details in the the probable cause affidavits:
Both victims said they hired Duerr, who purported to be a licensed home improvement contractor under the name Northeast Epoxy LLC, to make backyard improvements.
The work was never completed, prompting them to…
