Victims in paving scheme can't get reimbursement from state fund

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Maryland Home Improvement Commission is looking at more than a dozen local cases in connection with a paving scheme they say is run by an Annapolis man. But it turns out many of the victims overcharged by thousands for paving may not be able to get even a portion of their money back.

80-year-old Russell Gibson knows firsthand how home improvement work can really cost you if you're not careful. He paid $13,900 for paving work and says he was shocked when he got the bill. Gibson also tells us he was shocked to learn the man who paved his driveway for that outrageous price wasn't licensed.

Tommy Clack, the man an ABC2 News investigation uncovered is at the center of a multi-state paving scheme, has never been licensed as a contractor here in Maryland, according to the MHIC. But he's done plenty of work in our area. Steve Smitson, Executive Director of the MHIC says, "He's a very slick talker and will usually say, ‘I have extra asphalt in my truck. I was doing work related to that’."

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Local man's paving operation targets seniors

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It's a strategy Smitson says has worked for Clack, who reportedly offers his same day paving service at a discount price. Seniors are often targeted in the scheme, and once the work is done, Smitson says Clack bumps up the cost by thousands of dollars.

MHIC is investigating at least 14 cases, but Smitson believes there could be more, "These scam artists depend upon the victims being silent, too embarrassed or too ashamed to say anything."

But even people like Gibson that do come forward may not get much in return. Although criminal charges have been filed in more than a half dozen cases, cash back may be hard to come by for some victims. The MHIC does maintain a Guaranty Fund, but it’s funded by licensed contractors and only pays consumers who dispute work done by licensed contractors. As a result, the agency is hoping a conviction against Clack will offer angry victims some closure. Smitson says, "We will certainly be urging the judge to order that he pays full restitution."

Clack isn't due in court in Anne Arundel County until next month, so a decision that pays dividends could still be weeks or months away. In the meantime, victims like Gibson just have to roll with the work they feel was forced on them.

The Home Improvement Commission is asking people to question their elderly friends, family and neighbors if they've had a run in with Clack. Anyone who believes they’ve been victimized is being asked to contact the MHIC or local police.