Mars Man Charged With Home Improvement Fraud

A Mars contractor has been arrested for allegedly never finishing home remodeling work he was paid for.

John Peter Levkulich, 51, is charged with four counts of home improvement fraud, two counts of theft by deception and two counts of deceptive or fraudulent business practices in connection with two construction projects in which the victims lost a total of more than $60,000, according to the Allegheny County District Attorney's office.

In Monroeville, a victim said he paid Levkulich $29,500 for basement remodeling work that was never completed. The victim hired another contractor to do the work and was advised that all the previous work done by Levkulich was not done properly and had to be removed. The total amount of money lost by the victim was $22,500, according to the criminal complaint.

In a second case in the City of Pittsburgh, Levkulich was hired to complete four phases of work with different price points. The victim said he paid Levkulich $45,000, but none of the projects were completed. 

When the victim hired another contractor, the contractor again had to remove and replace what Levkulich had started, according to the complaint.

Prosecutors say the second victim's loss totaled $40,000.

Levkulich surrendered to the District Attorney's office Wednesday morning. He was released on his own recognizance and faces a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. on July 9.