Wayne County District Attorney A.G Howell announced today the arrest of Herman Briggs, III, age 43, from Beach Lake, Wayne County, PA. Briggs was charged with one count of Home Improvement Fraud, graded as a felony of the 2nd degree, and one count of Theft by Deception, graded as a felony of the 3rd degree.
According to the Criminal Complaint affidavit of probable cause filed by Wayne
County Detective Peter Hower, on September 17, 2025, the victims contacted Detective Hower regarding a possible Home Improvement Fraud case involving Herman Briggs, 3rd and his business Our Element, L.L.C.
The victims own a property in Cherry Ridge Township, Wayne County, PA. Between July 28, 2025 and August 25, 2025, the victims and Briggs had several conversations regarding the proposed work that was to be done at the victims’ residence.
On August 27, 2025, the victims signed a written estimate with Briggs and OurElement, L.L.C. The estimate was two-part. The first part was for the installation of high quality mini-split air conditioning units that meet the specified requirements and energy efficiency standards with a cost listed of $8,300.00. The second part was for the removal of all rotted beams, the replacement of those beams and the correction of a current plumbing issue with a cost listed of $5,400.00. The total cost, including $324.00 in sales tax, was $14,024.00. After signing the estimate, the victims paid Briggs $12,000.00 in cash to be used as a down payment.
Between August 27, 2025 and the present, Briggs delivered two mini-split units that were not up to the specifications as called for within the agreement. He also did very little work. The value of the two mini-split units was estimated at $1,050.00 and the value of the work that Briggs completed was estimated at $500.00. That means that Briggs legitimately is owed $1,550.00, leaving a balance of $10,950.00 owed to the victims.
On March 13, 2026, a Preliminary Hearing was held before Magisterial District Judge Ellis. Both charges were bound over for the Court of Common Pleas.
District Attorney A.G. Howell requests that if you were also a victim of Briggs and OurElement, LLC, please contact Wayne County Detective Peter Hower at (570) 253-5970, extension 2255.
*The filing of criminal charges is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Commonwealth against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the Commonwealth has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant enters a guilty plea to the charges.