'Fast Eddy' pleads guilty to stealing thousands

TRENTON, N.J. - The home-improvement contractor who has been in legal "hot water" for more than a year pleaded guilty on Tuesday for stealing more than $75,000 from clients.

Edward Humphrey - also known to his victims as "Fast Eddy" - stole money from clients, including a church in North Jersey and failing to perform the work for which he was paid.

Fast Eddy, 41, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft by deception.

He will be sentenced on Aug. 3. Humphrey faces a sentence between three and five years in state prison. He also is ordered to pay $188,000 in restitution.

Humphrey has previously admitted to consulting with clients between March 8 and Sept. 7, 2005, taking deposit checks and failing to perform the work.

Colorado connection

Del Benson loves living in the foothills of Fort Collins. He spent a lot of time making his Fort Collins home just right. After living there for 11 years, it was time make some repairs.

When Benson decided to participate in an energy study so his home improvements would be paid for, he ended up getting more than he bargained for. An independent contractor hired indirectly for his construction work is accused of doing a poor job, not finishing his work and having a track record of doing this repeatedly across the country. He's on probation in Florida, indicted in New Jersey and under investigation in California.

But Benson and others didn't know anything about that when "Fast Eddy" started working on the Ft. Collins home.

Benson's home repairs gone wrong

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'Fast Eddy' pleads guilty to stealing thousands