Dover Contractor Charged With Felony in $38K Fraud Against Rehoboth Beach Senior

A 59-year-old Dover man faces felony charges after allegedly taking more than $38,000 from an elderly Rehoboth Beach resident for construction work that was never completed. Delaware State Police arrested Stephen Kurtz on January 7th following an investigation that began in November.

A Dover contractor is facing serious criminal charges after authorities say he took thousands of dollars from an elderly victim for home improvement work that was never finished.

Delaware State Police have taken 59-year-old Stephen Kurtz into custody on charges of home improvement fraud and felony theft. The investigation into Kurtz’s alleged criminal activity started in November 2025.

According to investigators, Kurtz entered into an agreement with a 64-year-old Rehoboth Beach resident in February 2025 to perform construction services. The victim paid Kurtz more than $38,000 for the promised work, but authorities say the project was never completed and the homeowner never received their money back.

Law enforcement officials secured an arrest warrant for Kurtz following their investigation. He was taken into custody on January 7, 2026, and appeared before Justice of the Peace Court 2 for arraignment. Kurtz was subsequently released after posting a $10,000 unsecured bond.

The charges against Kurtz include:

• Home Improvement Fraud by False Pretense involving $1,500 or more with a victim aged 62 or older (Felony)
• Theft of $1,500 or more with a victim aged 62 or older (Felony)

Delaware State Police believe there may be additional victims who were similarly deceived by Kurtz. Investigators are encouraging anyone who believes they may have been defrauded by the suspect to reach out to Troop 4 Financial Crimes at 302-856-5850.

Tips can also be submitted through a private message to the Delaware State Police Facebook page or by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.