Contractor Seizes Employer’s Home Improvement Website; Pockets Money for Unfinished Business
Manufacturing // Pennsylvania, United States
A Delaware County, Pa. worker is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a couple for a construction project he never started and illegally taking over a website he was hired to create, which he then used to pilfer said money.
It all began in July 2014. James and Patricia Blaney wanted a two-story addition made to their house so their father could move in with them.
They found a website for contracting company J.D. Kelly Corporation. The Blaneys emailed the address listed on the site and Vincent Cottrell, 39, called them back, authorities say.
John D. Kelly, the owner of the company, told authorities he hired Cottrell to create a website for his contracting service, but once the site was constructed, Cottrell did not provide Kelly with the login information.
It was during this period that Cottrell allegedly listed himself as vice president of sales and business development on the site without permission, leading to the Blaneys contacting him for their addition.
They hired Cottrell and went on to issue six checks totaling $52,706.32, between November 2014 and March 2015, to Trend Consulting Group, a company where Cottrell was listed as managing partner and CEO.
Cottrell postponed the project multiple times for various reasons. He initially told the couple there was an issue with Upper Darby Township concerning the fire code, then with the permits, and then with the masonry contractor not being licensed in the township.
This prompted the Blaneys to contact a local official, who said he never remembered speaking with Cottrell, never received paperwork from him, and noted that masonry contractors get their licenses from the state, not the township.
The couple confronted Cottrell as to why the township didn't have any documents from him. In April 2015, James Blaney ended their contract with Cottrell.
A review of the bank account for Cottrell's company found that he spent $3,367.78 during the project period. None of the money was spent on the addition. Cottrell faces charges of, among other things, theft by deception and identity theft.