WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — The owner of paving company who was forced to pay restitution to a dozen homeowners wants his registration as a contractor to be reinstated. 

Wednesday afternoon, Mark Young Jr. asked the Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB) for a conditional reinstatement of his registration.

Attorney John Harwood vouched for Young.  

“He’s cleaned up his life personally and professionally,” Harwood said. 

As Target 12 reported in 2015, the state said Mark Young Jr. and his company, M.T.Y. Paving, targeted elderly homeowners, overcharged them for paving driveways, and in some cases, didn’t even complete the work. 

Young faced a slew of homeowner claims and violations. His registration was revoked but the CRLB said Young continued to work illegally. 

M.T.Y. Paving ultimately sold off its equipment to pay restitution totaling more than $32,000. 

The R.I. Attorney General’s office objected to Young’s motion Wednesday and the CRLB voted unanimously to deny the request. 

CRLB chair Thomas Furey said it was the right action for the board to take. 

“His attorney was asking for a conditional, meaning that we had some strings attached that we could monitor him,” Furey said. “We’ve  done that in the past but never with someone with this kind of a track record.”

“I think we made the right decision by denying that,” he added. 

 Under a court agreement from 2015, Young is allowed to work for properly registered and insured contractors.

“We may be back,” Harwood said. “I believe this young man wants to go in the right direction.” 

Susan Campbell (scampbell@wpri.com) is the Call 12 for Action and Target 12 consumer investigator for WPRI 12 and Fox Providence. Follow her on Twitter and on Facebook.