Somerset landscaper accused of stealing from customers throughout the area, held on bail

BROCKTON – A Somerset landscaper, whose customers have taken to social media for several years, has been held on bail on charges that he schemed to steal more than $100,000 from numerous customers.

Back in June, a Plymouth County grand jury returned indictments charging Eli Rego, 36, with one count each of Larceny by False Pretense, Larceny of more than $1,200 by Single Scheme, Identity Fraud, Failure to Provide Workers’ Compensation, Money Laundering, Larceny by False Pretense over $1,200 and Intimidation of a Witness. Rego was additionally indicted on two counts each of Larceny Under $1,200 and Tax Evasion, and four counts of Larceny over $1,200.

Rego allegedly operated a fraudulent landscaping business and stole considerable amounts of money from residents in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

In court on Monday during his arraignment, Rego was held on $10,000 cash bail, according to a spokesperson with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office. If released, Rego is to do no concrete work, has to stay away from all victims, and has to surrender his passport.

The indictments allege that as part of his scheme, Rego made numerous false statements concerning his landscaping expertise and background and failed to complete projects in a timely fashion in order to extend projects out and gain more money from victims.

The investigation further alleges that Rego took victims’ money to benefit himself personally and used the funds for luxury items and vacations.

As part of his scheme, Rego bolstered his background by providing victims with fake references and told customers that he required additional payments for necessary building materials that were never ordered.

The majority of Rego’s larceny offenses uncovered in the Plymouth County grand jury investigation occurred in 2020 and 2021. In total, it is believed that Rego’s deceptive behavior allowed for him to take approximately $100,000 from numerous victims.

In February 2021, Rego victimized several Hingham residents by fraudulently indicating that he was employed at Atlantic Concrete Construction LLC in Wareham and accepted $31,000 to construct a new seawall located on Kimball Beach Road in Hingham.

Rego never initiated any work on the seawall project, and instead, falsely claimed the town of Hingham was blocking his efforts to begin construction on the project.

Rego utilized the stolen funds to carry on with his fraudulent landscaping scheme and stole money and materials from individuals located in: Westport, North Attleboro, Freetown, Whitman, Uxbridge, Foxboro, Wareham, Rehoboth, Charlton, Swansea, Somerset, Onset, Buzzards Bay, Plymouth, West Bridgewater, Fairhaven, Middleboro, Canton, Acton, Millis, Gloucester, East Falmouth, Taunton, Woburn, Milton, Revere, Granby, East Bridgewater, Plainview, Lynnfield, New Bedford, and Acushnet.

One of his former clients stated that she was swindled out of $1,000 when wanting a walkway that her son could use a walker or wheelchair on.

If anyone feels that they have been victimized by Rego, they should contact their local police department.

Rego’s next court date is in Brockton in September.