Westfield Contractor Ripped Off $135K From Clients: Prosecutor

A contractor in Westfield has been charged after he accepted a down payment to build a new home but never did any of the work, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.

A Westfield-based contractor is accused of taking money to build a house and spending it on other projects.
Photo Credit: *File*

Paul Milo

09/27/2019 3:09 p.m.

Ralph A. Rapuano, 37, agreed to build a $1.35 million home for a couple in October 2018. The couple made an initial payment of $135,000, which Rapuano immediately spent on other projects, the prosecutor's office said.

Rapuano lied to the couple when he said his company was solvent, authorities also said.

He has been charged with theft by deception and theft by failure to make proper disposition of property received. He faces five to 10 years in prison on the charges.

Anyone with additional information about Rapuano’s activities is being urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Dennis Donovan at 908-527-4558.

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