Unlicensed Contractor Accused Of Stealing From Stafford Residents

STAFFORD, NJ — A West Creek-based contractor is accused of taking several thousand dollars from clients without being properly licensed as a contractor by the state, Stafford police said.

Robert Sprague Jr., 29, was charged with three counts of failing to register as a contractor, two counts of third-degree theft by deception and one count of fourth-degree theft by deception after three separate people filed complaints about him, police said.

Sprague operated a business, Rob's Platinum Home Service, and is accused of taking several thousand dollars from clients and lied that the money would be used for purchasing construction materials, according to police. It's not clear what the funds were actually used for.

He was also not properly licensed as a home improvement contractor by the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs, police said.

Sprague's charges were issued on a summons pending a court appearance to be scheduled in Ocean County Superior Court.