Louigi Frank, 33, of Runnemeade, N.J. was arrested by Upper Moreland Police, wanted for allegedly scamming seniors in Bucks County. (Image courtesy of Bedminster Police)
Upper Moreland Township Police were able to bring a wanted man who is accused of scamming an elderly resident of Bucks County.
According to a release by Bedminster Township Police, they were contacted by a family member of a resident of the township on Friday, Nov. 15. That family member said they felt their 89-year-old resident was being “taken advantage of by a driveway repair company.” Bedminster police arrived at Irish Meetinghouse Road in the township to find Louigi Frank and his wife “conducting patchwork on the resident’s driveway.”
The resident homeowner told police she was approached by Frank and his wife, claiming they had “extra material” and could seal-coat her driveway around Nov. 2, police said. Frank subsequently charged her $7,000 to seal the drive and conduct minor repairs, according to police.
“Officers are very familiar with investigating similar types of blacktop and seal-coating scams involving the sales pitch of ‘extra material’ specifically targeting senior citizens,” said Interim Chief of Police Nick Virnelson of Bedminster Township Police Department via Crimewatch.
Frank, 35, of Runnemead, N.J. and of Philadelphia, is the owner and operator of Seal Coat Pro. An arrest warrant was issued on Monday, Dec. 9 by Magisterial District Judge Gary Gambardella for two felony charges including one count of deceptive business practices and a second of theft by deception.
According to police, on Dec. 12, around 3:10 p.m., the Upper Moreland Township Police Department received a tip that Frank was at the Walmart located on Blair Mill Road in Willow Grove. Noting his outstanding warrant, UMPD arrived around 3:35 p.m. at the retail store and located Frank in the parking lot. He was taken into custody at that point, police reports stated.
Upper Moreland Police said that Frank had on his person, at the time of his arrest, a plastic baggy containing one straw, three blue wax papers stamped “Energizer” containing a powdery substance later identified as Fentanyl, and 15 wax papers, which were opened and emptied.
Frank was charged by UMPD with misdemeanor counts of intentionally possessing a controlled substance and the use/possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on bond signature for these charges on Dec. 13. He was then transported to Bucks County to face charges there.
Frank is due for a preliminary hearing on the drug charges on Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Thomas P. Murt.
Frank remained in the Bucks County jail unable to post a bail, until Dec. 19 when Malina Costello, of Strafford, N.J., provided private surety bail of $7,000, or ten percent of his $70,000 monetary bail. Frank is to appear for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Gary Gambardella.
If you believe you’ve been a victim of the same business, Seal Coat Pro, or of Frank’s business practices, contact Officer Jim Browne at 215-795-2972, ext. 108 or email [email protected].
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
