Contractor already facing fraud trial accused of taking money, not doing work in Lower Burrell, New Kensington

A home remodeler who is awaiting trial for allegedly committing contractor fraud last year was accused this month of taking money from residents in New Kensington and Lower Burrell for work he never did.

Jason Raymond Mager, 47, of the 400 block of Ridge Avenue was charged Tuesday by Lower Burrell police with a felony count of receiving advanced payment for services that were not performed.

He was charged by summons and ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing Dec. 5 before District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec, court records show.

On Oct. 5, New Kensington police charged Mager with felony counts of theft by deception, deceitful business practices and receiving advance payment for work he failed to do. A hearing date before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. has not yet been scheduled, according to the court docket.

In March, Harrison police filed eight felony charges against Mager for allegedly taking $6,800 up front to enclose a couple’s porch and never doing the work, court records show.

Mager waived his right to a June 5 preliminary hearing on the charges before District Judge Carolyn Bengel, who ordered him to stand trial in Allegheny County Court.

In the most recent case, Mager was charged by Lower Burrell police after a couple who live in the 2900 block of Phillips Drive reported they hired him to erect a fence on their property in late June and paid him $3,470 in cash as a down payment for materials.

The couple said they paid Mager another $400 in cash July 6 to buy a gate for the project, the complaint said.

On Sept. 6, Mager contacted the couple and told them the materials were accidentally delivered to his home. They gave him $370 in cash to rent a truck to transport the materials to their house, the complaint said.

After Mager gave the couple multiple excuses for why the work wasn’t being done, they asked him for a refund, which he agreed to provide, according to the complaint.

When police called Mager that same day, he agreed to return the family’s money, saying he could not do the work on their home and those of two other people because he was suffering from health problems, the complaint said.

He told police the Lower Burrell couple would get their money by Oct. 9, but investigators said no money was ever returned to them, the complaint said.