Sheriff R. Gary Hoffman reports that on August 22, 2011 D/Cpl. Stephen Stouffer of the Criminal Investigations Unit received information about a possible home improvement fraud being conducted in the Mid-Shore area. D/Cpl. Stouffer learned that there is a contractor operating in the Queen Anne’s County Maryland area and possibly in the Talbot and Caroline County area as well who is offering blacktop service to elderly residents at a reduced cost. D/Cpl. Stouffer learned that this subject will advise that he has left over asphalt and that he can pave driveways for a drastically reduced cost as a result. The contractor will then complete the service and charge the residents as much as $25,000.00 for the service. The contractor is preforming the service which is generally valued at $6,000.00. When the bill is disputed the subject will offer to settle for approximately $14,000.00 or $15,000.00 to avoid legal action. This subject is currently under investigation in Prince George’s County and Anne Arundel County Maryland as well as South Carolina and Florida where the subject has been barred from doing business. D/Cpl. Stouffer learned that the subject’s real name is Thomas Clack but that he also uses the name Thomas Clark and Thomas Bramble (most recently used in Queen Anne’s County).

Sheriff Hofmann requests that anyone who has done business with this subject or who is approached by this subject please contact D/Cpl. Stouffer at the Office of the Sheriff at 410-758-0770 extension 1219 or Investigator Renee Crawley of the Maryland Home Improvement Association at 410-230-6168 or on her email at rcrawley@dllr.state.md.us.