HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR CHARGED WITH STEALING MORE
THAN $100,000 FROM BRONX HOMEOWNERS

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today the arrest and indictment of a contractor who allegedly failed to either make repairs or begin home improvement jobs for clients who made down payments totaling more than $142,000.

A grand jury indicted John Arceri, of Huntington, New York, on one count of Grand Larceny in the 2nd degree, ten counts of Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree, three counts of Grand Larceny in the 4th degree, two counts of Scheme to Defraud in the 1st degree, and one count of Petit Larceny. Arceri is facing a maximum sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment if convicted of the most serious charge, Grand Larceny in the 2nd degree, a Class C felony offense.

Arceri was arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice John Byrne who released the defendant on his own recognizance even though the People had argued that bail be set in the amount of $100,000.

It is alleged that Arceri stole $142,300.00 from 22 Bronx homeowners during a six month period from June 1, 2006 through November 30, 2006. The defendant allegedly saturated Bronx neighborhoods with advertising for his Long Island based business, J. Arceri Home Improvements, Inc. Once prospective clients inquired about available services, Arceri would meet with them to discuss the work to be done, negotiate contract terms and require clients to make large down payments. It is alleged that Arceri would then disappear for months without doing any of the work for which his company had been paid.

The alleged scheme came to light when the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs was deluged with complaints from homeowners who had been victimized.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Daniel Klein and Agata DiGiovanni of the Arson / Auto / Economic Crimes Bureau.