Feb 20, 2015 2 min read

A Canonsburg man accused of bilking two prospective home improvement customers out of almost $60,000 was arraigned Thursday on charges of theft by deception and deceptive business practices.

Salvatore Conte, 57, of 517 Moore Ave.,was doing business as 3 Dimensional Construction.

A Greensburg woman told state police she paid Conte $50,000 to complete a home in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County. She told Trooper Thomas Kress that she met with Conte at his home, which he also used for his business, and showed him plans for the house, which already had a foundation. Conte reportedly told her that he could do the work for $90,000.

Police said Conte asked the Greensburg woman for a $30,000 deposit, which she paid last April. He gave her a contract and receipt. Police said he never visited the home site before making the estimate. He also allegedly told her she would be in the home by July and he would immediately start the work, but did nothing.

In June, he reportedly asked her for another $30,000 so he could hire workers. She said she paid one of Conte’s associates $20,000, and the associate also gave her a receipt.

The alleged victim told police very minimal work was done and she asked Conte to return her money, with no luck.

A Prosperity man told police he contracted with Conte last July to do roofing work at his home. He said he paid Conte a $2,000 deposit for work that was to cost $8,000 and was given a proposal and a receipt. He said he later contracted with Conte to do additional work on his property, including a barn roof, siding, windows and porch, paid another $2,000 toward the roof and made a payment of $6,650 on the additional work.

Police said Conte told the Prosperity man he would start the work in September, but by late October only minimal work had been done. Workers collected their tools Oct. 29 and never returned, the property owner said.

The Prosperity man asked for a refund, and Conte reportedly agreed to pay him monthly, but as of this week only $1,000 had been repaid, police said.

District Judge David Mark set bond for Conte at $50,000. Conte has been in Washington County jail since Feb. 12 on a probation warrant. A preliminary hearing on the charges is set for March 4 before Mark.