Queens contractor tried to scam Franklin Square couple out of $129G for roof repairs, Nassau DA says
"Do not become a victim. If a construction company knocks on your door soliciting for work, slam it shut and call law enforcement," said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. Credit: Newsday/A.J. Singh
The owner of a Queens construction company accused of trying to scam an elderly Franklin Square couple out of $129,000 was charged with insurance fraud and other crimes this week, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.
Clifford Whitaker, 43, pleaded not guilty to second-degree insurance fraud, second-degree attempted grand larceny, second-degree scheme to defraud and third-degree forgery during an arraignment in Hempstead on Thursday, Donnelly’s office said in a statement.
Nassau District Judge Ryan Cronin set Whitaker’s bail at $50,000 cash, $125,000 bond and $250,000 partially secured bond. He faces up to 2 1/3 to seven years in prison if convicted. Whitaker was arrested on April 2 by Nassau police detectives.
"This defendant allegedly took advantage of a trusting elderly couple, telling them their roof needed repairs and continuing to visit their home, piling on additional construction, and increasing the price of the work more than 5000% over the course of five days," Donnelly said, calling Whitaker’s actions "deplorable."
Scam artists, Donnelly said, become more active in the spring and summer. "As the weather heats up, more scammers will be knocking on doors around Nassau County trying similar schemes, she said. "Do not become a victim. If a construction company knocks on your door soliciting for work, slam it shut and call law enforcement."
Whitaker was represented by a Nassau County Legal Aid attorney at his arraignment, Donnelly said. The agency said on Friday that Whitaker had not been formally assigned an attorney.
Prosecutors said Whitaker, the president of New Dawn Construction, appeared at the Franklin Square home of an 80-year-old man and his 71-year-old wife on March 8 and told them he noticed that several shingles on their roof required repairs.
After inspecting the roof, Whitaker told the couple that he could repair the damage for approximately $2,500, the DA’s office said. The defendant and another person, who has not been apprehended, returned to the home several times. They told the couple there was additional damage, and the price for repairs had grown to $129,000.
The investigation into the apprehended suspect is ongoing, Donnelly said.
On March 10, Whitaker asked for one of the victim’s email addresses, telling them he wanted to contact a Liberty Mutual representative who would approve an insurance claim for $129,000 in repairs. The victims received an email purportedly from Liberty Mutual approving the roof repairs, the district attorney's office said. Investigators learned that a legitimate insurance claim was never filed with Liberty Mutual, and the approval for the repairs was fraudulent.
"I have seen so many cases in my decades as a prosecutor of scam artists preying on our seniors and duping them out of their life savings," Donnelly said. "It is deplorable."
Donnelly urged anyone who believes they were victimized by Whitaker to call her office’s Criminal Complaints Unit at 516-571-3505.
The owner of a Queens construction company accused of trying to scam an elderly Franklin Square couple out of $129,000 was charged with insurance fraud and other crimes this week, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.
Clifford Whitaker, 43, pleaded not guilty to second-degree insurance fraud, second-degree attempted grand larceny, second-degree scheme to defraud and third-degree forgery during an arraignment in Hempstead on Thursday, Donnelly’s office said in a statement.
Nassau District Judge Ryan Cronin set Whitaker’s bail at $50,000 cash, $125,000 bond and $250,000 partially secured bond. He faces up to 2 1/3 to seven years in prison if convicted. Whitaker was arrested on April 2 by Nassau police detectives.
"This defendant allegedly took advantage of a trusting elderly couple, telling them their roof needed repairs and continuing to visit their home, piling on additional construction, and increasing the price of the work more than 5000% over the course of five days," Donnelly said, calling Whitaker’s actions "deplorable."
Scam artists, Donnelly said, become more active in the spring and summer. "As the weather heats up, more scammers will be knocking on doors around Nassau County trying similar schemes, she said. "Do not become a victim. If a construction company knocks on your door soliciting for work, slam it shut and call law enforcement."
Whitaker was represented by a Nassau County Legal Aid attorney at his arraignment, Donnelly said. The agency said on Friday that Whitaker had not been formally assigned an attorney.
Prosecutors said Whitaker, the president of New Dawn Construction, appeared at the Franklin Square home of an 80-year-old man and his 71-year-old wife on March 8 and told them he noticed that several shingles on their roof required repairs.
After inspecting the roof, Whitaker told the couple that he could repair the damage for approximately $2,500, the DA’s office said. The defendant and another person, who has not been apprehended, returned to the home several times. They told the couple there was additional damage, and the price for repairs had grown to $129,000.
The investigation into the apprehended suspect is ongoing, Donnelly said.
On March 10, Whitaker asked for one of the victim’s email addresses, telling them he wanted to contact a Liberty Mutual representative who would approve an insurance claim for $129,000 in repairs. The victims received an email purportedly from Liberty Mutual approving the roof repairs, the district attorney's office said. Investigators learned that a legitimate insurance claim was never filed with Liberty Mutual, and the approval for the repairs was fraudulent.
"I have seen so many cases in my decades as a prosecutor of scam artists preying on our seniors and duping them out of their life savings," Donnelly said. "It is deplorable."
Donnelly urged anyone who believes they were victimized by Whitaker to call her office’s Criminal Complaints Unit at 516-571-3505.
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