North Penn Now has requested the booking image for 53-year-old Joseph Ford Jr, of Collegeville, from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
An electrician from Collegeville is facing more than a dozen
sets of charges across four counties in southeastern Pennsylvania stemming from
a contractor fraud investigation initiated by the Lower Providence Township
Police Department.
North Penn Now became aware of the investigation in
late December 2022, after receiving a criminal complaint regarding felony charges
against 53-year-old Joseph Ford Jr., who owns the Collegeville-based 1st
Call Electric.
According to the complaint, Montgomery Township Police were
contacted in September 2022 by a detective from Lower Providence Police
regarding a contractor fraud investigation into Ford. The detective provided Montgomery
Township Police with a spreadsheet of potential victims based off their
addresses within Montgomery County.
Investigators contacted one potential victim residing along
the 300 block of Regency Drive, who stated that they were allegedly defrauded
of $7,000 in their dealings with Ford and 1st Call Electric. The
homeowner told police they had signed a contact with Ford in March 2022 for the
purchase and installation of a home generator, however after months of
stalling, Ford failed to complete the job or refund their money, according to
charging documents.
Ford then ceased responding to the homeowner, police said.
Court records show on that Oct. 20, 2022, Montgomery
Township Police filed felony charges against Ford including deceptive business practices,
false statements to induce agreement for home improvement services, theft by
unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property. He was
arraigned by District Judge Christopher Cerski on Dec. 19, 2022, at which time
Judge Cerski set bail at $5,000 unsecured and Ford was released from custody.
In looking up the initial investigation by Lower Providence
Police, court records showed Ford had a total of eight cases filed against him
in Montgomery County between Oct. 12, 2022, and Nov. 3, 2022, with dates of
offenses ranging between May 2021 through Oct. 25, 2022.
Further search of court records revealed three additional
cases filed in Bucks County, two cases in Chester County, and a single case in
Delaware County.
Those cases include:
Montgomery County:
- Lower Providence – Charges filed on Oct. 12 with an offense
date of Aug. 22. Charges include felony counts of deceptive business practices,
false statements to induce agreement for home improvement services, theft by
unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and theft by deception. Bail set at
$100,000 unsecured.
- Montgomery Township – Charges filed on Oct. 20 with
an offense date of March 1. Charges include felony counts of deceptive business
practices, false statements to induce agreement for home improvement services,
theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property.
Bail set at $5,000 unsecured. (arraigned on Dec. 19)
- Upper Merion Township – Charges filed on Nov. 2 with
an offense date of July 29, 2021. Charges include felony counts of deceptive
business practices, false statements to induce agreement for home improvement
services, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen
property. Bail set at $5,000 unsecured.
- Springfield Township – Charges filed on Oct. 21 with
an offense date of Oct. 5. Charges include felony counts of deceptive business
practices, false statements to induce agreement for home improvement services,
theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property.
Bail set at $5,000 unsecured.
- Lower Merion Township – Charges filed on Nov. 3 with
an offense date of Oct. 25. Charges include felony counts of deceptive business
practices, false statements to induce agreement for home improvement services,
theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property. Bail set at $5,000
unsecured.
- Lower Merion Township – Charges filed on Oct. 25 with
an offense date of Oct. 21. Charges include felony counts of deceptive business
practices, false statements to induce agreement for home improvement services,
theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property. Bail set at $5,000
unsecured.
- Jenkintown Borough – Charges filed on Oct. 17 with an
offense date of Oct. 11. Charges include felony counts of deceptive business
practices, false statements to induce agreement for home improvement services,
theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving stolen property.
Bail set at $5,000 unsecured.
- East Norriton Township – Charges filed on Oct. 19
with an offense date of May 19, 2021. Charges include felony counts of
deceptive business practices, false statements to induce agreement for home
improvement services, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and
receiving stolen property. Bail set at $10,000 unsecured.
Bucks County:
- New Britain Township – Charges filed on Oct. 31 with
an offense date of Oct. 18. Charges include felony counts of deceptive business
practices, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and receiving advance
payment for services and failing to perform. Bail has not been set as the case
is set to inactive and he has not yet had his preliminary arraignment.
- Northampton Township – Charges filed on Dec. 29 with
an offense date of Oct. 26, 2021. Charges include felony counts of deceptive
business practices, false statements to induce agreement for home improvement
services, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen
property, and receiving advance payment for services and failing to perform. Bail
has not been set as the case is set to inactive and he has not yet had his
preliminary arraignment.
- Bensalem Township – Charges filed on Dec. 15 with an
offense date of April 22, 2021. Charges include felony counts of deceptive
business practices, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving
stolen property, and receiving advance payment for services and failing to
perform. Bail has not been set as the case is set to inactive and he has not
yet had his preliminary arraignment.
Chester County:
- Warwick Township – Charges filed on Dec. 12 with an
offense date of Oct. 19. Single felony charge of theft of services – acquisition
of services. Bail set at 10% of $10,000 cash.
- Uwchlan Township – Charges filed on Oct. 14 with an
offense date of Feb. 24. Charges include felony counts of deceptive business
practices, false statements to induce agreement for home improvement services,
theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and
receiving advance payment for services and failing to perform. Bail set at
$10,000 cash.
Delaware County:
- Haverford Township – Charges filed on Nov. 28 with an
offense date of Feb. 25. Charges include felony counts of deceptive business
practices, false statements to induce agreement for home improvement services, theft
by deception, and receiving advance payment for services and failing to
perform. Bail set at 10% of $100,000 cash.
It appears that the spreadsheet of potential victims had
been sent to police departments across southeastern Pennsylvania, meaning
additional cases could be filed if more victims are identified or come forward.
Court records show Ford has been in custody at the Delaware
County jail since Dec. 20, 2022.
North Penn Now has reached out to the Montgomery
County District Attorney’s Office for comment on the investigations as well as
to secure Ford’s booking image. This article will be updated once we receive a
response.
Efforts to reach 1st Call Electric were unsuccessful, as it appears their phone line has been disconnected.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven
guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of
probable cause.
See also:
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Say
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of Marijuana, Police Say
Chalfont
Man Arrested After Attacking Man with Pair of Swords, Police Say
North
Wales Borough Man Accused of Repeatedly Raping Young Girl 10 Years Ago
