Long Beach, New York –Nassau County Executive Laura Curran today joined with Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford, Commissioner of the Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs Greg May and Gale Berg of the Nassau County Bar Association to wage war on crooked Superstorm Sandy contractors and urge residents who have not yet reported Sandy scams to do so.
“Six years later and the number of victims is still climbing,” said County Executive Curran. “With Senator Todd Kaminsky, we continue to push Albany to help these residents put Sandy behind them and recoup what has been lost.”
Currently, Nassau County as received 185 Complaints related to Super Storm Sandy, with the number updated daily. Of those, 116 are currently open and 69 are closed. Of the closed cases 37 were referred to the Nassau County District Attorney.
Sen. Todd Kaminsky, who lives in Long Beach, has tirelessly fought to protect residents who have not put the pieces back together since Sandy and have been victims of Sandy-related scams.
“Fraudulent contractors have stolen much more than money from the Sandy victims who have endured hardship for nearly six years,” said Kaminsky. “If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud and/or entitled to a hardship waiver from NYRising, please contact my office and we will try to help restore the peace of mind that was wrongfully taken from you. Thank you to County Executive Curran and District Attorney Singas for ensuring their agencies are properly focused on helping Sandy victims get justice.”
“The residents thought that Super Storm Sandy was horrible, but for so many the nightmare continues by being taking advantage of thru unscrupulous contactors,” said Legislator Ford. “Thank you, County Executive Curran, for your initiative in helping to address this issue.”
County Executive Curran named several contractors, including JBJ General Contracting (not licensed and 43 open complaints), Turnkey Contractor Solutions (license suspended and 33 open complaints), VAR Home Improvements (license suspended and 6 open complaints), and Erin’s Pride Construction (not licensed and 4 open complaints). VAR Home Improvements believes JBJ General Contracting fraudulently pulled permits under their license.
Turnkey Contractor Solutions’ owner, Cody Lawrence, has been arrested in Texas on a Louisiana warrant for contractor fraud that also included 36 complaints.
Many of the crooked contractors placed unlawful liens on victims’ homes. Currently, nine liens have been filed on seven properties, including JBJ with five liens by subcontractors; Turnkey with three liens by subcontractors; and ANS Contracting with one lien. Seven liens have been filed by VAR and is believed to be on properties assigned to it by contract with JBJ.
“Scamming hard working families will not be tolerated in Nassau County, period,” said Curran. “We will find you and you will be prosecuted.”
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