Mineola, NY - February 25, 2014 - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced the arrest today of an unlicensed contractor who stole thousands of dollars from Nassau County homeowners for air conditioning repairs that never took place.
Charles Ganzenmuller, 38, of Lords Valley, Pa., was arraigned before Nassau County District Court Judge David McAndrews today and charged with two counts of Grand Larceny in the 3rd Degree (a D felony), one count of Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree (an E felony), one count to Scheme to Defraud in the 1st Degree (an E felony), and two counts of Operating a Home Improvement Business without a License (an A misdemeanor). If convicted of the top charge, Ganzenmuller faces up to a maximum of 7 years in prison. Ganzenmuller was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court on Feb. 27.
“Contractors who blatantly and repeatedly disregard signed contracts with homeowners, as well as flout licensing rules, have no place doing business in Nassau County,” DA Rice said. “My office will continue its efforts to hold unscrupulous contractors accountable for their crimes and to protect homeowners.”
DA Rice said that Ganzenmuller solicited and entered into home improvement contracts with multiple Nassau County homeowners between Jan. 4, 2012 and May 25, 2012. When entering into the contracts, Ganzenmuller claimed he owned two companies named “Assured Air Conditioning” and “Alliance Air Conditioning.”
On January 4, 2012, Ganzenmuller, doing business as “Allied Air Conditioning,” entered into a contract with a Massapequa Park homeowner, to furnish and install a new boiler. Ganzenmuller was paid $2,000 as a down payment, but performed no work on the contract.
On May 18, 2012, Ganzenmuller, doing business as “Assured Air Conditioning,” entered into a contract with an East Meadow couple. Ganzenmuller was paid $7,800 as a down payment to provide interior and exterior air conditioning units, and other work on their home. Ganzenmuller cashed the check, laid some duct work in the home, but did not provide any of the air conditioning units he had been paid for.
Ganzenmuller, doing business as “Assured Air Conditioning,” entered into a contract on May 25, 2012 with an East Rockaway homeowner. Ganzenmuller was paid $5,400 as a down payment on the contract to provide indoor and outdoor cooling units, and other work. After receiving the money, Ganzenmuller did no work, and provided no materials.
According to the Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs, neither Ganzenmuller nor his companies had a valid Home Improvement license at the time he entered into the contracts. Each victim filed a complaint to DCA, which referred the cases to DA Rice’s office for further investigation.
Assistant District Attorney Edward Bradley of DA Rice’s Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau is prosecuting the case. Ganzenmuller is represented by Legal Aid Society.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.