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DENIS DILLON 262 OLD COUNTRY ROAD
DISTRICT ATTORNEY MINEOLA, NY
TELEPHONE (516) 571-2994
OFFICE of the DISTRICT ATTORNEY
NASSAU COUNTY
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Katie Grilli-Robles (516) 571-2994 DECEMBER 23rd, 2004
DILLON ANNOUNCES
THE ARREST OF SCOTT PETERSON
UNLICENSED HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR
Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced today the arrest
of Scott Peterson, 39, of 31 Wall Street, East Patchogue by the DA's
Criminal Frauds Bureau. Peterson is accused of operating a home
improvement business without a license, while defrauding a woman from
Levittown, leaving her essentially homeless.
According to Dillon, "our office received a complaint from a resident
of 38 Blue Jay Lane, Levittown that stated that the complainant had
signed a contract with Scott Peterson, owner of Total Construction &
Restoration, of 50B Carlough Road, Bohemia, for the demolition of the
existing structure and a reconstruction of the house at 38 Blue Jay
Lane. The total contract price was $96,050, with a specified payment
schedule. The complainant asked Peterson if he was licensed in Nassau
County, he responded that he was and dialed his cell phone representing
that he was calling Consumer Affairs. The complainant was told by the
person on the phone that Peterson did have a license to practice home
improvement in Nassau County and that there were no complaints lodged
against him."
"On July 29, 2004 the complainant paid Scott Peterson a deposit of
$14,050.00," said Dillon. "He began the demolition of the home at 38
Blue Jay Lane in the end of September, because he told the complainant
it took two months to obtain the necessary permits. After the initial
demolition was complete in October, the complainant paid Scott Peterson
the first payment of $14,050.00, as dictated by the contract. At that
time Peterson indicated that he needed the second payment up front,
prior to the completion of that portion of the work. He explained to
the complainant that the money was to be used on the materials. The
complainant paid Scott Peterson a second check in the amount of
$14,050.00 the same day she made the first payment."
"On November 22, 2004, in response to Peterson's demand, the
complainant made the third and fourth payments to Scott Peterson,"
Dillon continued. "She gave him two checks, each in the amount of
$14,050. No additional work was done since the initial demolition.
Every time the complainant asked Scott Peterson about the lack of
progress on her house, he came up with numerous excuses and ultimately,
just continuously put her off."
"In the interim, Scott Peterson had sent the complainant a letter
confirming that he was, in fact, licensed in Nassau County," said
Dillon. "Our investigation revealed that the license number he included
in that letter belonged to two other individuals who own and operate a
separate home improvement business. Scott Peterson lied to the
complainant by fraudulently representing himself to have a valid home
improvement license in Nassau County. He used another contractor's
valid license number without authority to further his scheme. Scott
Peterson also had an individual by the name of "Bill" contact the
complainant for an additional $8,500.00 that was not specified in the
contract. According to "Bill", the inspector visited the site and
indicated that there was a serious problem with the concrete, and that
it needed to be replaced. When the complainant called the inspector,
Mr. Puglisi, he stated that there was no problem with her concrete and
he never told the contractor that it needed to be replaced. At this
juncture, the complainant realized she was being scammed."
"In total, the complainant paid Scott Peterson a total of $70,250.00,
and now is living with family because her home is open to the elements
an is uninhabitable," said Dillon. "Currently, our office has charged
Peterson with Operating a Home Improvement Business Without a License,
a Class A Misdemeanor, the investigation is continuing and additional
charges may be filed."
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**Pictures & Video Available**
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