Billerica man accused of driveway scam

LOWELL -- A Billerica man is accused of fraud by accepting a partial payment to repave a Dracut couple's driveway/parking lot, tearing up the concrete, leaving and not returning.

In Lowell District Court on Tuesday, Tommy M. Stevens, 36, who has no clear address, pleaded not guilty to charges of entering into a commercial transaction under false pretenses and malicious/wanton destruction of property

He was released on personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from the alleged victim. Stevens' next court date is Sept. 26 for a pretrial conference.

Dracut police write in court documents that an Arlington Avenue couple contacted them on April 30. The victims allege that on Sept. 24 they were approached by Stevens, formerly of Dracut, who provided a card identifying himself as the owner of U.S.A. Roofing & Paving at 105 Lowell St., Lowell. Police state that Lowell does not have a Lowell Street.

Stevens looked at the couple's driveway/parking lot and quoted a price of $800 to pave it, with $400 paid up front and the remaining $400 after the job was completed, police allege. Stevens was given a check for $400 and in return he provided a slip that stated "ReNew Paring Black Concreat (sic) high two inches she Deposit to me 400.00." It was signed "Tommy."

The couple said Stevens broke up and removed pieces of concrete from the lot, then state he was leaving to get supplies and would return to complete the job, police allege. Stevens never returned, according to court documents.

The $400 check given to Stevens was cashed that day.

Since Sept. 24, the couple have called Stevens 15 to 20 times, speaking to him several times on the phone and allegedly receiving assurances from Stevens he would refund the money. The last time the couple spoke to Stevens was three months ago. The money has never been refunded.

Dracut Police Officer Jon Gosselin reported that he had been told three months earlier that Stevens may have been involved in a driveway-paving scam, but there was no indication of misdeeds.

Gosselin said he made multiple attempts to reach Stevens at several phone numbers and different addresses, but to no avail. The Sun tried to reach Stevens via a phone number in court documents, no one answered and there was no voicemail available to leave a message.

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Billerica man accused of driveway scam