Roofer indicted on theft, licensing charges

November 18, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bernie Weisenfeld- PIO
Phone: (856) 384-5617; Pager (856) 251-4736

William Hoyer (DOB 3/10/73), of 9 Fillmore Way, Sicklerville, was indicted today by a Gloucester County grand jury on charges that he kept a $3163 down-payment for a Monroe Township residential roofing job and did not perform the promised work.

A second count of the indictment accuses Hoyer of failing to maintain the required annual registration of his home improvement business with the state Division of Consumer Affairs. The business, believed to be defunct, was called A Better Life.

The third-degree theft by unlawful taking charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in state prison and the fourth-degree unregistered contractor charge is punishable by up to 18 months in prison.

The theft offense is alleged to have occurred May 4, 2008.

The Monroe Township homeowner who hired Hoyer eventually filed criminal and consumer affairs complaints against him. The Gloucester County Office of Consumer Affairs referred the matter to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office for investigation.

Gloucester County urges consumers to check the registration of contractors before signing a contract, said county Freeholder Joe Chila, who oversees the Consumer Affairs office. Consumer Affairs and the GCPO “have been warning both consumers and home improvement contractors about this for several years,” Chila said.