Contact: Beth Stone 508-584-8120
BROCKTON – A Somerset landscaper has been indicted on charges that he schemed to steal more than $100,000 from numerous customers, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
Today, a Plymouth County grand jury returned indictments charging Eli Rego, 36, with one count each of Larceny by False Pretense, Larceny of more than $1,200 by Single Scheme, Identity Fraud, Failure To Provide Workers’ Compensation, Money Laundering, Larceny by False Pretense over $1,200 and Intimidation of a Witness. Rego was additionally indicted on two counts each of Larceny Under $1,200 and Tax Evasion, and four counts of Larceny over $1,200.
Today’s indictments follow a several months-long investigation into allegations that over a number of years Rego allegedly operated a fraudulent landscaping business and stole considerable amounts of money from residents in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The indictments allege that as part of his scheme, Rego made numerous false statements concerning his landscaping expertise and background, and failed to complete projects in a timely fashion in order to extend projects out and gain more money from victims.
The investigation further alleges that Rego took victims’ money to benefit himself personally, and used the funds for luxury items and vacations.
As part of his scheme, Rego bolstered his background by providing victims with fake references, and told customers that he required additional payments for necessary building materials that were never ordered.
The majority of Rego’s larceny offenses uncovered in the Plymouth County grand jury investigation occurred in 2020 and 2021. In total, it is believed that Rego’s deceptive behavior allowed for him to take approximately $100,000 from numerous victims.
In February, 2021 Rego victimized several Hingham residents by fraudulently indicating that he was employed at Atlantic Concrete Construction LLC in Wareham, and accepted $31,000 to construct a new seawall located on Kimball Beach Road in Hingham. Rego never initiated any work on the seawall project, and instead, falsely claimed the town of Hingham was blocking his efforts to begin construction on the project.
Rego utilized the stolen funds to carry on with his fraudulent landscaping scheme and stole money and materials from individuals located in: Westport, North Attleboro, Freetown, Whitman, Uxbridge, Foxboro, Wareham, Acushnet, Rehoboth, Charlton, Swansea, Somerset, Onset, Buzzards Bay, Plymouth, West Bridgewater, Fairhaven, Middleboro, Canton, Acton, Millis, Gloucester, East Falmouth, Taunton, Woburn, Milton, Swansea, Revere, Granby, East Bridgewater, Plainview, Lynnfield, New Bedford, and Acushnet.
If anyone feels that they have been victimized by Rego, they should contact their local police department.
The investigation is ongoing. Rego will be arraigned in superior court on the charges at a later date.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexander Zane, and was investigated by Hingham Police, Somerset Police, and Swansea Police.