Two convicted of home-repair fraud in Henrico

The ranks of fraudulent home-repair operators have been reduced by two.

Henrico County detectives and prosecutors this week gained convictions against two would-be home-repair specialists who did no work or did work so poorly it had to be torn out. Combined losses exceeded $20,000.

"In one case, he went up on the roof and just hammered nails to make it sound like he was doing something," said Henrico Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Michael S. Huberman, referring to Thomas W. Taylor.

Taylor, 48, of the 2300 block of Wood Drive in Prince George County was sentenced to three years in prison this week on multiple fraud and license convictions in Henrico Circuit Court.

Taylor was responsible for about $10,000 in lost money or bogus repairs, Huberman said.

Yesterday, a second contractor pleaded guilty to 10 charges, including two for felony construction fraud and multiple counts of performing work without a license.

Albert Gilyard faces up to 48 years in prison when he is sentenced May 7.

Huberman said the two cases illustrate the need for homeowners to verify the backgrounds and licenses of people advertising or offering services door-to-door, especially as spring approaches.

"Just because someone has a business card with a company name and saying the person is licensed doesn't mean anything," Huberman said. Licenses and histories of most contractors can be checked through the state Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation at http://www.dpor.virginia.gov.

Gilyard, 56, of the 8200 block of St. Charles Road in Henrico, was responsible for about $10,000 in losses, according to Huberman, from work that was not done or partly done and for which he had been paid in advance.

Taylor preyed on older residents who were not physically able to check what Taylor was doing. In one case, he told a woman he had done work for her deceased husband.

In another instance, Huberman said, Taylor asked for water while working in a hot attic and used it to dampen insulation.

"Then he'd show [the homeowner] the wet insulation to show that the roof was leaking," Huberman said.

Contact Bill McKelway (804) 649-6601 or .