A plumber from Floral Park is being charged with scamming homeowners both before and after Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast almost two years ago.
David Jensen, 45, allegedly signed contracts with homeowners and took deposits ranging from $1,000 to $4,200. The victims were hiring Jensen to fix broken heating systems. Jensen was working for All County Plumbing & Heating, as well as Proline Plumbing & Heating, and began collecting the money in September 2012.
After taking the deposits, Jensen allegedly told the homeowners that their systems would need to be fitted with equipment from National Grid before he could begin his work. The homeowners complied, however Jensen was then unreachable and never returned to any of the jobs.
Of the nine victims affected by the scam, eight were hiring Jensen to do work on damages caused by Hurricane Sandy. The houses were located in Elmont, Franklin Square, Massapequa, Wantagh, East Meadow, Roosevelt, Huntington Station and Valley Stream.
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice’s office began receiving complaints about Jensen in April 2013. Following an investigation, Jensen was arrested on Thursday.
In a statement, Rice stated that Jensen’s case “is part of [her] office’s continuing efforts not only to vigorously prosecute those who scam homeowners struggling in the wake of yesterday’s storms, but to deter others from scamming homeowners in the aftermath of storms to come.”
Jensen is facing three charges of Grand Larceny in the 3rd Degree, five counts of Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree, one count of Scheme to Defraud in the 1st Degree and one count of Petit Larceny. Bail was set at $10,000. If convicted on each top charge, Jensen well serve up to 2-1/3 years to seven years in prison.
[Source: Nassau County District Attorney]