South Shore man despatched to jail for pandemic swimming pool rip-off

A Plymouth man was sentenced final month for utilizing his swimming pool enterprise to rip-off owners.

Steven Docchio, 59, pleaded responsible to 4 counts of larceny over $1,200, in response to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.

On Nov. 18, he was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in state jail with 9 months to be served and the steadiness suspended for a complete of 10 years probation, the DA’s workplace mentioned.

Docchio was additionally ordered to pay his victims restitution and is prohibited from any development or landscaping work whereas on probation.

During the pandemic, Docchio gave owners unrealistic timelines for swimming pool installations and falsely claimed he had particular entry to constructing departments and materials distributors, officers mentioned.

Docchio finally collected greater than $500,000 from owners for house enchancment tasks that he by no means accomplished, in response to the DA’s workplace.

“This so-called contractor made promises to homeowners that he never delivered upon,” Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz mentioned in an announcement. “Through his schemes and scams, Docchio victimized these people and stole from them — first their trust, and then their money. I am hopeful that with this defendant now going to jail and ordered to pay restitution, it will bring some form of closure to his victims.”