Contractor Ripped Off Doylestown Homeowners, Others: DA

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A Bucks County contractor is accused of committing more than $500,000 in home improvement fraud in the area and surrounding counties since June 2014, the Bucks County District Attorney said Thursday.

Shawn Timothy Nicola, formerly known as Shawn Gerety, is charged with felony counts of theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and several counts of deceptive business practices.

Nicola is the owner and operator of BuildTREND LLC. The Bucks County District Attorney said he is accused of ripping off nine victims, including $163,900 from a couple in Warrington Township in 2015 and nearly $88,000 from a couple in Doylestown Township.

He is also accused of defrauding three victims in Delaware County, two in Montgomery County and two in Chester County.

Nicole has a court hearing on Aug. 7 before Magisterial District Judge Jean Seaman. The case is being prosecuted by Bucks County Deputy District Attorney Alan J. Garabedian.

Anyone with information on Nicola or believe they may have been a victim should contact Bucks County Detective Eric Landamia at elandamia@buckscounty.org or Bucks County Detective Tim Campbell at tcampbell@buckscounty.org.