OROVILLE, CA (MPG) - Over the past several days the Butte County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple reports from residents about a driveway repaving scam. After reviewing reports and contacting victims, detectives determined a paving crew was presenting themselves as employees of A-1 Asphalt Company. The crew would approach mainly senior citizens at their homes. The crew told victims they had hot asphalt left over from a previous job and could repave their driveways for free or at a discounted price. In multiple incidents, the crew gave the victims one price, started the work and then demanded additional money from the victims far exceeding the original price quote. All of the work performed was sub-par and will need to be redone. Detectives determined the crew responsible for the scam had performed paving work in Chico, Magalia, and Oroville.

On the morning of April 2, deputies and detectives determined the crew responsible for the scam was possibly staying in a motel room in Oroville. Detectives authored a search warrant for the motel room affiliated with the crew and conducted surveillance of the motel. Around 2:00 PM detectives witnessed three individuals enter the suspect’s motel room. The individuals appeared to be removing items from the motel room. Detectives detained the individuals and served a search warrant at the motel room. During the service of the search warrant detectives located over $100,000 in cash, two trailers with paving equipment in the motel parking lot, and evidence to support the three individuals were involved in the aforementioned paving scam.

Detectives identified one of the individuals as Patrick Connors of the United Kingdom, age 18. The two other individuals accompanying Connors were 17 year-old juveniles, also from the United Kingdom. Detectives determined Connors and the two juveniles had traveled to the Butte County area for the purpose of participating in the aforementioned paving scam. Connors and the two juveniles were attempting to remove the $100,000 from their motel room when they were contacted by law enforcement. The $100,000 is believed to be proceeds from the aforementioned paving scam.

Detectives arrested Connors for conspiracy to commit grand theft and elder abuse, for contracting without a license, and for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. One of the juveniles was arrested for grand theft, elder abuse, conspiracy, and contracting without a license. The other juvenile was arrested for conspiracy to commit grand theft and elder abuse, and for contracting without a license. Detectives determined the crew was performing the aforementioned paving scam at multiple locations in California to include in the Sacramento region. Detectives also located evidence the crew had been in the Redding area.

Based on past experience, detectives know these types of scams are typically committed by transient or unlicensed companies that offer driveway repaving services. The subjects will contact residents, while specifically targeting seniors, and offer to repave their driveway for free or at a discounted rate through a verbal estimate. After completing a sub-par job, payment is demanded that typically far exceeds the original verbal estimate. BCSO encourages all residents to check the validity of contractors on the Contractors’ State Licensing Board website at www.cslb.ca.gov, prior to having any work performed by a contractor.

This investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information to contact Sergeant Pat McNelis, Detective Jake Smith, or Detective Joe Hooks at 530-538-7671.