Home improvement contractor Kevin W. Drake, 55, of 3048 Sequoia Drive, Macungie, has been charged with six counts of theft by deception and six counts of home improvement fraud after he was arrested by Upper Macungie police April 5, for allegedly not doing work for which he was paid.

According to police, they received a complaint from a township resident regarding Drake, whom he hired to finish his basement.

The homeowner said he provided advanced payment to Drake, and the work allegedly was never completed.

During the investigation between July 2012 and January, six Lehigh County homeowners were identified for whom Drake allegedly signed a contract to complete home improvement projects at their homes and work was either started and never completed, or no work was done.

Police allege, in each of the cases, Drake received substantial advanced payments for the work that was to be completed and did not refund monies paid him.

A criminal complaint was filed April 5 against Drake before District Judge Michael Faulkner charging him with six counts of theft by deception and six counts of home improvement fraud, all of which are felonies of the third degree.

Upper Macungie detectives arrested Drake at his home that day and transported him to Lehigh County Central Booking where he was arraigned and remanded on $100,000 straight bail.

The total estimated loss for the six homeowners is $123,100.

According to police, two homeowners live in Upper Macungie Township, one in the 1500 block of Bridgeton Road. Partial work was allegedly completed by Drake with payment of $13,800.

The second Upper Macungie resident lives in the 1500 block of Crossland Road. No work was allegedly done by Drake, who was paid $33,100.

An Upper Milford Township resident, of the 6600 block of Granville Road, allegedly paid Drake $22,000 and partial work was completed.

A resident of the 6600 block of Trafalgar Drive, Lower Macungie Township, allegedly paid Drake $20,000 and no work was completed.

A second Lower Macungie homeowner, of the 1300 block of Walnut Lane, had partial work completed after allegedly paying Drake $28,300.

The third resident of Lower Macungie, of the 2000 block of Alexander Drive, allegedly paid Drake $5,900 and had partial work completed.