Charge: Man posed as licensed contractor to defraud elderly homeowner

A Sewell man is accused of defrauding an elderly woman by taking $340,000 while posing as a licensed contractor over more than a year.

Christopher Fuscellaro, 32, allegedly took money from a Washington Township resident "for various home improvements and renovations that have never been completed, or were non-existent," says a probable cause statement for multiple charges against him.

The alleged thefts took place from September 2022 to November 2023, when the victim's daughter brought her to Washington Township's police department, the statement says.

They said Fuscellaro, initially hired for a small job at the woman's house, "persuaded and pressured [the victim] that several areas of her house required unnecessary repairs," according to the statement.

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It says Fuscellaro demolished various areas of the residence and continued to take payments, "despite never completing any of the work or bringing any building materials into the home."

Fuscellaro was arrested outside his home Tuesday after an eight-month probe.

The investigation remains open, the prosecutor's office said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Prosecutor's Detective Alex Phillips at 856-384-5629.

Fuscellaro operated businesses known as All Four Seasons Construction and Fuscellaro Construction, the statement says.

The statement noted Pennsylvania State Police were also involved in an investigation of Fuscellaro, but it offered no details.

Charges against Fuscellaro include theft and theft by deception.

He's also accused of three counts of insurance fraud, tied to allegedly bogus claims on homeowner and auto policies.

Alleged proceeds from insurance fraud are not included in the estimate of money allegedly taken from the homeowner. The total also excludes money "fraudulently obtained" for the purchase of a Polaris Slingshot, a three-wheel motorcycle, the statement alleges..

Fuscellaro, who was held in Salem County Jail, is also charged with failing to register as a contractor with the state Division of Consumer Affairs.

The charges are only allegations. Fuscellaro has not been convicted in the case.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Charge: Man posed as licensed contractor to defraud elderly homeowner