A Tolland man whose home improvement company had their license revoked faces several charges from West Hartford Police after scamming a resident out of more than $100,000.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police have arrested and charged a 37-year-old Tolland man in connection with defrauding a homeowner by charging for a project that was never completed.

Lt. Ryan Riley said police began an investigation in April 2024 after receiving a report from a West Hartford homeowner. The homeowner had hired – and paid – Rick Labelle and his business, Abel Construction and Remodeling, LLC of Tolland, for a project that was never completed. Police said the homeowner sustained a financial loss of more than $100,000.

The West Hartford Police Department’s Detective Division and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) jointly investigated the incident. Abel Construction and Remodeling’s contractor license had been revoked by DCP, police said.

“WHPD personnel also discovered that Labelle altered several documents and provided the homeowner with fictitious receipts in an effort to deceive them,” Riley said in an email on Thursday.

Police obtained a warrant for Labelle’s arrest, and on Jan. 23, 2025 he was charged with one count of first-degree larceny and four counts of third-degree forgery. He was due to appear in Hartford Superior Court on Thursday.

Rick Labelle. Courtesy of West Hartford Police

According to online court documents, Labelle was already in custody on charged stemming from incidents involving larceny and bad checks in Bloomfield and Suffield. Online court documents indicate several pending criminal cases, as well as convictions dating back to 2015. Labelle, and/or Abel Construction and Remodeling LLC, is also the subject of multiple civil actions, online court records indicate.

Any member of the public who has information regarding this incident is asked to contact the West Hartford Police Department’s tip line at 860-570-8969 or email [email protected].

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