A snow plow contractor who scammed people in Buffalo and was arrested on charges of doing the same thing in a Rochester suburb is now facing more charges.
Scott Romero runs Met Construction Company in Irondequoit. WHAM reports Romero was using a fake name, Andy Stewart, with customers and that after being hired to plow their driveways he never showed up.
He was arrested last week and charged with petit larceny and scheme to defraud. Gates Police have now charged the 39-year-old Palmyra man with first degree scheme to defraud, a felony. And Ogden Police have charged Romero with two counts each of second degree scheme to defraud and petit larceny.
Additional charges are pending.
Officers say Romero defrauded at least 13 victims in the Town of Gates. One of his victims was a 90-year-old woman and three others were woman in their 70s. In the Town of Ogden, Romero allegedly defrauded at least two people.
In 2011, Romero was arrested for running the same scam in Buffalo under the company name “Extreme Snowplowing.” He along with Richard Marrapese scammed more than 400 customers in Erie and Niagara counties out of around $100,000.
The customers prepaid the company for snow removal services, but Romero and Marrapese never showed.
The State Attorney General says the company misrepresented itself by claiming to have a fleet of trucks, when they didn’t. Extreme Snowplowing was also not properly insured.
The company was ordered to pay restitution.
In this new case, State Attorney General Eric Scheniderman’s Office released this statement:
“Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s Office takes allegations of consumer frauds seriously. We are working closely with local law enforcement and are exploring all options, including whether the respondent is in contempt of court based on previous court orders obtained by our office.”
