A Plymouth home improvement contractor bilked Massachusetts homeowners out of more than $500,000, collecting deposits on swimming pools and other projects and never completing the work, Plymouth County prosecutors allege.
Steven Docchio, 59, was sentenced to nine months in jail Tuesday after pleading guilty to four counts of larceny over $1,200.
Docchio was originally indicted in January 2023 on 17 counts, but prosecutors agreed to dismiss most of the charges in exchange for a guilty plea.
Plymouth Superior Court judge William F. Sullivan sentenced him to two and a half years in jail, with nine months to serve. Docchio has already spent six months in jail, so he will only be held for three more months.
Prosecutors had originally asked that Docchio be sentenced to five to six years in state prison, citing his “prolonged scheme of fraudulent home improvement practices.”
“His actions resulted in significant financial losses for homeowners and left properties in dangerous, unfinished conditions,” wrote Plymouth assistant district attorney Alex Zane in a sentencing recommendation memo.
Zane described some of the alleged crimes and their victims.
An East Bridgewater homeowner wanted a swimming pool for his autistic son, but Docchio abandoned the project without finishing it, leaving a partially constructed concrete slab, prosecutors charged.
In West Boylston, Docchio allegedly took a deposit to build a pool and patio. He dug a hole, which he left unfilled, creating a “dangerous hazard” for the family, prosecutors alleged.
A Brookline homeowner wanted Docchio to build a “therapeutic” pool for a disabled daughter. It also was not completed, prosecutors charged.
An East Falmouth homeowner hired him to build a deck. Docchio only performed minimal work and left a dangerous unfinished structure with a “significant drop off, endangering the family’s safety,” prosecutors alleged.
In addition, prosecutors alleged that Docchio fraudulently applied for COVID relief money by submitting false tax documents.
Through it all, prosecutors said, Docchio showed a “lack of remorse,” attacking his victims verbally and shifting blame during a television interview.
Docchio was also sentenced to 10 years of probation and ordered to pay $45,000 now, with additional restitution to be paid in the future. The restitution specifics will be determined at a future hearing.
While on probation, Docchio will be barred from working in the home improvement industry.
“This so-called contractor made promises to homeowners that he never delivered upon,” Plymouth County district attorney Tim Cruz said in a statement.
“Through his schemes and scams Docchio victimized these people and stole from them — first their trust, and then their money,” Cruz said. “I am hopeful that with this defendant now going to jail and ordered to pay restitution, it will bring some form of closure to his victims.”
Docchio’s lawyer, Ryan Matthews, requested a six-month jail term and five years’ probation.
“We appreciate the care that the judge put in crafting a sentence that carries both an incarcerated and a restitution portion,” Matthews told the Independent. “This was a difficult case, and Mr. Docchio has a lengthy probationary period during which he can make restitution.”
Andrea Estes can be reached at andrea@plymouthindependent.org.