San Mateo police have collared three men from Virginia for operating an alleged roofing scam that fleeced elderly locals, according to a press release. Officials said white male suspects, who spoke with "Irish accents," tricked seniors into paying for unnecessary and incomplete roofing jobs through a sham business known as "Statewide Roofing and Siding".
The arrests concluded a probe that began in November 2023, when police in San Mateo started receiving complaints from elderly citizens about the bogus company. The investigation revealed that the same individuals used another fraudulent outfit called "Teco Roofing and Masonry" to continue their duplicitous methods, overcharging and proposing excessive work on projects they often never finished.
Charged with the scam are Charlie Anderson, 22, David Anderson, 39, and Darren Temple, 40, all hailing from Herndon, Virginia. The charges against them include elder theft, obtaining money by pretenses, the fraudulent use of a false contractor’s license, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
The break in the case came when one victim reported to the San Mateo Police Department that he suspected the firm he'd hired for a roof repair was swindling him, triggering actions that led to the suspects' apprehension on May 8, the department said. San Mateo police continue to urge anyone who might have had dealings with "Statewide Roofing and Siding" or "Teco Roofing and Masonry" to contact authorities.
All three men were booked into San Mateo County Jail, with police seeking additional scam victims. Officer Thornburg of the San Mateo Police Department has been assigned as the contact for this ongoing investigation.
