Pottstown Contractor Took $156K In Payments, Completed No Work: A.G.

POTTSTWON, PA — A Montgomery County contractor who took some $156,000 from clients but failed to complete any of the home improvement work they'd paid him for has been sentenced to six years in state prison, a judge ruled this week.

Jared Wyllie, 48, was also sentenced to two years probation and must pay back the money he owes.

Wyllie, who ran a company called Projex, took up front payments from four homeowners in 2021 and 2022, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said.

One of the families had to sell their home at a loss because of Wyllie's failure to do the work, authorities said.

In other cases, Wyllie began to do the work, but it was sloppy and fell apart quickly, according to testimony. Another family who had hired Wyllie to repair their roof said they it had to be replaced and repainted several times after Wyllie left.

Another victim paid Wyllie more than $4,000 for supplies for repair an open roof, but Wyllie simply put a cheap plastic tarp over it and kept the rest of the money, officials said.

”A person’s home is their castle, and in this case, the defendant created misery and financial ruin for several individuals who trusted him with their homes,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement.

He urged residents to do research on all contractors before signing any paperwork or providing any upfront payments. Officials also urged residents to "be wary of high pressure tactics" and to always check references and thoroughly review the contract ahead of time.

Always check that that the contractor is legally registered, either online with the Bureau of Consumer Protection’s Contractor Registration website or by phone at 1-888-520-6680.