Police have arrested a man linked to a home improvement scam in Plymouth, with authorities believing he and an accomplice may have defrauded numerous other victims.
Billy Dean Castle, 27, was taken into custody on Saturday, facing charges of second-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny, according to the Plymouth Police Department.
The charges stem from an incident reported on June 30, when an elderly resident in Plymouth claimed that two men visited his home, offering to repair his chimney. Aware that the chimney needed repairs, the resident agreed to pay the men $60 for the work, which they promised to complete later that day.
According to the police report, the two men, who spoke with pronounced English accents, returned that afternoon to inspect the chimney. They informed the resident that the damage had worsened, estimating repairs would cost $16,200. The men requested an upfront payment of $8,500, which the victim withdrew from his bank account and provided to them. They later asked for an additional $7,700 for materials, which the victim also gave them after making another trip to the bank.
Police allege that after taking the payments, the men promised to return the next day to begin the work but never showed up.
Investigators were able to track down one of the suspects after a local campground employee grew suspicious of a group of men from Great Britain who appeared to be scamming people. The employee documented their passports, vehicle details, and phone numbers—one of which matched the number given to the victim.
The campground worker contacted authorities, leading to the victim identifying one suspect in a photo lineup, prompting investigators to obtain a warrant for Castle’s arrest.
Plymouth police, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police, located Castle at a campground in Stafford Springs. He was released after posting a $25,000 bond and is set to appear in New Britain Superior Court on September 3.
Authorities believe there are likely many more victims and urge anyone who suspects they have been targeted to contact their local police department. “This pack travels often and is not in one place for too long,” Plymouth police noted.
