BY TANYA BRICKING
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The weeds are already creeping up in Georgia Gideon's newly blacktopped driveway. Her good deal was a scam.
The 77-year-old Mount Airy woman thought she got a bargain when a blacktopper showed up at her door offering a cheap price. But the final bill came to a few thousand dollars more than the estimate. "They're fast talkers, baby," she said of the blacktoppers. "It's a shame to take advantage of people who live on Social Security. But we were stupid."
Her story already has police wondering where the roving band of con artists will hit next.
Her complaint against a crew calling itself Broadway Paving led
to the arrest Wednesday of Johnny Broadway, 45, who was staying in a Kings Mills trailer park. He offered to pave her driveway for less than $900 but billed her about $3,800.
Mr. Broadway was released from jail Thursday on a felony theft charge, and police suspect he is the leader of a group known as English Travelers -- who roam several states with home-improvement ploys -- Cincinnati Police Spc. Paul Meyer said.
Authorities have traced the group from Mount Airy to Blue Ash to Warren and Clinton counties.
Receipts found also tie the group to Indiana, Tennessee and Alabama, Spc. Meyer said.
The group is suspected of operating as A-1 Lebanon Paving, which has eight complaints with the Better Business Bureau since last month. "The Travelers are basically Caucasian gypsies," said Joe Livingston, a senior agent in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, who has tracked Travelers for 14 years. "Most of them live transient lifestyles."
Even naturally suspicious people can be lured into a false sense of security.
"If it sounds too good to be true, it is," warns Jocile Ehrlich, president of Cincinnati's Better Business Bureau. "Don't fall for it if they say they . . . have leftover blacktop or shingles or landscaping."
An elderly person in Blue Ash fell for the blacktop line Monday, Blue Ash Police Sgt. Robert Lilley said. It cost $3,600 for blacktop that could wash away in the next rain.
Robert J. Stevens, 26, who listed a Mason address, is wanted in that alleged scam. His business used the name B&S Hot-Mix Paving. "We tell people to be very wary of door-to-door solicitations," Sgt. Lilley said.
The Better Business Bureau advises:
Check out the company by calling the bureau at 421-3015.
Ask to see licensing credentials and references.
Don't pay cash up front.
Get a minimum of three written estimates.
Have a contract that includes a description of work and a start and finish date.
