Home contractor faces more charges

A Houston man already facing home improvement fraud charges now faces more.

Jeremy Bowen, 45, of Houston, who police said was previously from Millville, was out on his own recognizance following March charges in which police said Bowen took $43,000 from a 72-year-old man to build an in-ground pool but did no work.

In July, Troop 4 Financial Crimes detectives began investigating Bowen, of Delmarva Landscaping Solutions LLC and Shoreline Escapes LLC, for home improvement fraud and said Bowen had signed a contract in March 2023 with a 65-year-old Georgetown man who paid him $27,500 to install an in-ground pool, but the job was never competed. In September 2023, police said, Bowen signed a contract with an Ocean View woman who paid him $18,000 to install an in-ground pool, and in March, Bowen signed a contract with a Frankford man who paid Bowen $1,600 to install a fence. In all cases, police said, the work was not completed, the contracts were not fulfilled, and only one victim received partial reimbursement.

Detectives obtained warrants for Bowen’s arrest, and he turned himself in at Troop 4. He was charged with two counts of felony home improvement fraud over $1,500, felony home improvement fraud over $1,500 where the victim is over 62, felony theft by false pretense over $1,500, and felony theft over $1,500. Bowen was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and released on $8,000 secured bond and $3,000 cash bond.

Detectives ask anyone who may have been defrauded in a similar manner to contact Troop 4 Financial Crimes Unit at 302-856-5850, send a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contact Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333.