More fraud charges

Home remodeler accused of bilking two dozen victims

The 34-yearold owner of a Hatfield Township home remodeling company taken into custody in September following an investigation into his purported fraudulent business practices now faces 107 criminal counts after more alleged victims came forward after his arrest, according to police.

Prosecutors filed an amended criminal complaint late Monday charging Jose Javier Cruz of the first block of Whitemarsh Lane with 40 counts of deceptive business practices and 20 counts each of theft, theft by deception and receiving stolen property, all thirddegree felonies.

The owner of Bentley Surfaces in the 600 block of Bethlehem Pike, Cruz has also been charged with four counts of misdemeanor bad checks as well as misdemeanor counts of theft, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

Hatfield Township police Detective Thomas Starner, who led the investigation, said in court documents that the total loss to the 22 individuals and businesses victimized by Cruz to date totals more than $109,000.

On Tuesday afternoon, Cruz — who has been incarcerated at Montgomery County Correctional Facility since his Sept. 19 preliminary arraignment — waived his

Jose Javier Cruz