Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon has announced the filing of charges against 25 individuals and home improvements companies for doing business in Nassau County without a license. The criminal charges stem from complaints by consumers regarding shoddy home repairs. If convicted, each could face up to one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

According to Dillon, "The allegations are part of our continued enforcement against contractors who fail to comply with the law. The charges stem from complaints to the DA's office and Consumer Affairs Department by residents who feel they were cheated. Some homeowners complained of poor workmanship, while others complained that they lost a down payment for little work or work that was never performed. Following such a complaint, a check of records revealed that these companies and individuals are not licensed to perform home improvement work in Nassau County."

The DA gave as an example the complaint of a Brookville homeowner that hired East Coast Custom Carpentry to construct an extension and install siding on this entire home. The cost of the work was to be $26,885. The homeowner paid the contractor a total of $24,700. Work was done sporadically on the house until the contractor failed to return to the job. The homeowner says the work was only half done and efforts to get the contractor to complete the job were ignored. The homeowner had to pay another contractor to complete the job and he sued East Coast Custom Carpentry and won a judgment in the amount of $12,375. However, the complainant has been unable to collect on the judgment.

Dillon said in another complaint a Hempstead homeowner says he contracted with State Siding to rebuild his garage. The total cost of the work was to be $4,500. The homeowner paid the contractor a down payment of $2,600. The contractor said the job would take one week to complete. However, the work was done sporadically and the homeowner says the contractor failed to complete the job. Despite promises to return the homeowner's money, the contractor never returned the $2,600. In addition, the homeowner had to pay the dumpster company to remove the dumpster from his home and hire another contractor to complete the job properly.

The DA said a Syosset homeowner contracted with the Blue Lagoon Pool Company to remove an existing in-ground swimming pool and install a new pool. The cost was to be $8,500 and a deposit of $3,750 was given to the business. The work never started on time and eventually some workers came to the home and dug out the existing pool. The company never returned to complete the job and the downpayment was never returned. Eventually the homeowner had to hire another contractor to complete the pool for nearly $10,000.

Those charged and their last known address is as follows:

Michael L. Peterson

dba East Coast Custom Carpentry

407 Ontario Street

Ronkonkoma, New York

Don Andersen

445 Peninsula Blvd.

Lynbrook, New York

David Cohen

dba Scarlet Begonias

52 Park Drive

Valley Stream, New York

Rosario Froehlich

dba M & R Home Maintenance

1439 Sherwood Drive

East Meadow, New York

Frank Genna

dba Genco Company

18 Academy Lane

Levittown, New York

Jerome Hartley

20 Wendell Street

Hempstead, New York

Thomas Paladino

7 Plow Lane

Levittown, New York

Maoz Ruvio

dba M.A.O.Z. Builders

435 E. Broadway

Long Beach, New York

Lemuel Stephens

dba L.L.'s Contracting & Home Improvement

15 Madison Avenue

Roosevelt, New York

Robert McGinley Jr.

dba Blue Lagoon Pool Company

826 Meadow Road

Smithtown, New York

Dominic Motta

dba Rescue Cesspool Sewer

630 Bedford Avenue

Hauppauge, New York

Vincent Pezzino

dba Vinnie Contracting

128-19 6th Avenue

College Point, New York

Malak Wastia

dba S.K. Construction Company

87-30 167th Street

Jamaica, New York

Anastasios Bardis

dba State Siding

2 Walnut Place

Lindenhurst, New York

"It's unfortunate that homeowners continue to be victimized by some contractors. Many of these nightmares could be avoided if the homeowner checked with Consumer Affairs before hiring an unlicensed contractor. While licensing is not a guarantee that homeowners will be satisfied with the work, it is some security that the firm is not a fly-by-night business. A license shows that the firm has taken the time and expense to secure a license and gives the Consumer Affairs Department an opportunity to resolve the dispute. In addition, victims of an unlicensed contractor are not eligible to receive any monies from the Consumer Affairs Department's Restitution Fund. This money is reserved for victims of licensed contractors," said Dillon.

All of the companies and individuals received Appearance Tickets returnable in the District Court. The charges are merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.