Crime & Safety

Man Cheated Woman, 84, Out of $15K, Police Say

The following arrest information was supplied by the Stratford Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

Police say a Bridgeport man scammed an 84-year-old Stratford woman out of about $15,000 for home improvement work that didn't happen.

Donald Glenn Shola, 48, was arrested Friday, Feb. 10, on a slew of charges that included second-degree larceny and third-degree forgery.

Stratford police said they started the investigation back in late-June 2011, when the branch manager of a Trumbull Wells Fargo called them on behalf of the victim. The manager reportedly told police Shola had cashed 39 personal checks from the victim, which dated back to March 2011 and totaled $12,699, police said.

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The branch manager later reportedly told police Shola cashed 42 checks for $14,875, which, according to police, were filled out as follows:

  • $4,760 for garage repair work
  • $3,020 for electrical work
  • $3,020 for deck work
  • $1,555 for termite damage
  • $1,260 for miscellaneous work
  • $540 for mail box work
  • $720 for metal flashing work

Police said on the same day the manager called police, Shola came into the bank to cash another check, but was refused service. Later that day police said they visited the victim, who told them Shola had just left the house. Police said the victim appeared in good physical condition but got lost in a series of questions they asked her.

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The victim didn't know how many checks she wrote to Shola, who she said was a neighbor who told her what work needed to be done on her home, police said. The victim also reportedly told police she paid Shola in cash. She was unable to produce a contract for the work, police said.

It was later reportedly discovered that Shola's home improvement contractor's license expired in November 2006, and that six of the checks were not in the victim's handwriting.

Police said they set up an interview with Shola in mid-July but he didn't show.

About a week after Shola reportedly skipped out on the meeting, a police officer with over 20 years experience in carpentry inspected the home that Shola had allegedly worked on for a four-month period. Police said the officer found numerous discrepancies with the amount of money spent for home improvement at ther residence and what had actually been done to furbish the home.

An arrest warrant was returned to Stratford police in September and Shola was arrested Friday on the following charges:

  • Second-degree larceny exploitation of elderly
  • Third-degree forgery (6 counts)
  • Sixth-degree larceny (6 counts)
  • Failure to display or possess a state tax permit
  • Offering to make improvements without a certification of registration
  • Failure to provide a receipt or contract
  • Failure to provide notice of cancelation
  • Failure to complete notice of cancelation
  • Failure to provide notice of buyers rights
  • Failure to orally inform of cancellation rights

Shola posted $30,000 bond and is due in court Feb. 17


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