newjerseynewsroom.com

8 face criminal charges, 4 civil action

As the climax to a four-day sting guided by the state Division of Consumer Affairs, the Bergen County prosecutor’s office has filed fourth-degree criminal charges against eight allegedly unregistered contractors and is taking civil action against four others.

The staging place for the undercover operation was a four bedroom, three bathroom Cape Cod-style dwelling that, like many homes in its Lyndhurst neighborhood, suffered extensive structural and mold damage as a result of floodwaters caused by Tropical Storm Irene. The home served as the base for the multi-agency undercover operation to expose allegedly unregistered home improvement contractors seeking to capitalize on the August disaster that left many homeowners in desperate need of home repair help.

As part of the operation, Consumer Affairs investigators, posing as homeowners, responded to home repair advertisements shortly after the floodwaters receded. The investigators invited a total of 16 contractors to visit the house, examine the damage, and provide repairs.

A total of 12 contractors who arrived at the home allegedly were not registered to perform any residential home improvement work. But their lack of state-mandated annual registration did not prevent them from providing repair estimates exceeding $30,000 in some cases.

Facing criminal charges are:

Gerard Carrion of Reliable Handyman Service, Sparta

David Czeizinger of Mr. D’s Home Improvement, Kearny

Joseph Dellasala, Hackensack

Perlat Jera of Jera Home Improvement, Hasbrouck Heights

John Robbie of John Robbie’s Carpentry Plus, North Arlington

Maria Somma of Chester & Maria of Cranford

Stan Stanley, of Wayne and

Peter Varley of Reliable Home Improvement of Annandale

Consumer Affairs has filed civil Notices of Violation against four allegedly unregistered contractors, each of which may request an administrative hearing in which to challenge the charges:

Jorge Avila of Toyo Construction, Morristown

Niksa Dobre of Asseria Construction, Totowa

Carlos Guarquila of CG General Construction, Bellville and

Ruben Silva of R&S Home Improvement, Newark

Some of the contractors showed up without bringing a tape measure, ruler, meter, or any other measuring device," Consumer Affairs Director Thomas R. Calcagni said Wednesday. "According to our investigation, one allegedly unregistered contractor, advertising through flyers posted at a local grocery store, turned out to have a California driver's license, a Massachusetts license plate, and a New Jersey post office box."