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I-Team: Somerville Contractor Charged With Harassing Customer Over Yelp Review

BOSTON (CBS) – A Somerville contractor harassed a former customer, apparently angry about a negative online review, according to criminal charges filed in Natick County.

Richard Froais appeared for arraignment on Wednesday. The 52-year-old is no stranger to customer complaints. In 2014, he was the focus of an I-Team investigation about taking money but not finishing the jobs.

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Richard Froais at his arraignment on September 23. (WBZ-TV)

One of those customers, Chabbi Neupane, posted a review on Yelp to warn others about Froais and his company, Universal Home Renovations. Neupane said the contractor only did the demo work, but then never returned.

"Botton line: he gulped 2/3 of the project money by doing 1.5 days worth of demo work," the Yelp review said. "Do not be a victim like me."

That is when the harassment started, Neupane told the I-Team.

"He kind of started on a slower path, sending me emails trying to intimidate me," he said.

And things escalated.

First, Neupane's phone rang off the hook when his number was listed with a Harley Davidson motorcycle for sale on Craigslist.

Then, a steady stream of people started showing up at his home, believing he was giving away a washer and dryer, a water heater, and scrap metal for free. Neupane said he eventually had to put a sign up on his house, letting people know he did not have any ads on Craigslist.

Froais then took it one step further, according to an email Neupane shared with the I-Team.

"We have warned you before about posting false reviews," wrote Froais. "You have left myself and friends of mine from Google to post in the highest order about being a sex offender from your country."

Neupane then found several online postings, accusing him of being an unregistered sex offender.

"At that point, I started feeling very uncomfortable," Neubane said. "I couldn't take it anymore so I went to police."

Froias' trail of complaints extends into Rhode Island. As the I-Team previously reported, Froais had his license revoked and was ordered to pay more than $130,000 in restitution to nine different homeowners who hired him to do renovation work.

He is also charged in West Roxbury Municipal Court with larceny, acting as a home improvement contractor without a license, and taking money without performing work as described in a contract.

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Chabbi Neupane was allegedly harassed for posting a bad Yelp review. (WBZ-TV)

According to prosecutors, the victim in that case paid more than $2,500 as a down payment for a renovation project. The work was never performed and the victim was unable to reach Froais by email or phone.

Froais is currently behind bars in Bristol County for similar allegations in Attleboro and New Bedford.

Neupane, who ironically hired the contractor after seeing a positive online review, now has a word of caution for other homeowners looking to hire someone.

"Don't rely on those. Ask for real people. Get real person recommendations," he said.

Ryan Kath can be reached at rkath@cbs.com. You can follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.

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