Contractor sentenced to jail for defrauding Dalton couple

David Singleton, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·2 min read

Jan. 11—A Carbondale home improvement contractor will spend nine to 23 months in the Lackawanna County Prison for defrauding a Dalton couple of more than $15,000 by walking away from a job.

Brandon Michael Staples, owner of Highlight Elite Construction, was sentenced Wednesday by Lackawanna County Senior Judge Vito Geroulo for his Oct. 6 guilty plea to one count of home improvement fraud.

The judge also placed him on probation for one year and ordered him to repay the $13,771.50 he still owes his victims.

County detectives charged Staples, 32, 17 Gordon Ave., in April 2021 with taking money from Gregory and Jessica Chaya to construct new porches and make other improvements to their Weatherby Street home in Dalton but failing to complete the work.

According to a complaint filed by county Detective Renee Castellani, the couple signed a contract with Staples in November 2020 for $73,000 worth of work and paid him $29,000 through January 2021.

The contractor ordered more than $13,000 in materials and supplies, which were delivered to the Dalton home, but did minimal work before he cut off contact with the couple in March 2021, the complaint said. Castellani determined the total loss to the Chayas to be $15,271.50.

Deputy District Attorney Cathy Tully, who said Staples made partial restitution before Wednesday's sentencing hearing, told the judge there have been a lot of delays in getting the victims the money they are owed.

She said Staples' sentence needed to include a payment plan.

Defense attorney Kevin McNicholas said the defendant had no objection to a payment plan and asked the judge to consider a sentence that would allow Staples to continue working so he can meet his obligations.

Staples told Geroulo he messed up and never intended to take advantage of the Chayas.

"I do want to pay, believe me," he said.

In handing down the sentence, Geroulo told Staples the court saw "a lot of intentional game-playing going on" and questioned the defendant's sincerity about making his victims whole.

"It seems to me more strenuous efforts could have been made," the judge said.

He ordered Staples to make $200 monthly payments to the Chayas, beginning within 60 days after he is paroled. He also barred Staples from having any further contact with the couple.

Contact the writer:

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9132.