Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that an Amityville man was arrested yesterday and charged with grand larceny and related charges for allegedly defrauding two homeowners in Long Beach out of a total of nearly $200,000 in home improvement schemes between August 2019 and January 2021.
Peter Ferrigan, 56, owner of PBF Home Improvements, LLC., was arraigned yesterday before Judge Norman Sammut on charges of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree pursuant to New York Lien Law Section 79-a (a C felony) and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree (an E felony). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of five to 15 years in prison. Ferrigan is due back in court on December 1, 2023.
“This defendant took on home improvement projects for two Long Beach residents and allegedly left them high and dry, stealing a total of nearly $200,000 of their payments without completing construction,” said DA Donnelly. “Ferrigan allegedly spent the money on personal expenses, including airline tickets and jewelry, and even used a portion of the funds stolen from one victim to pay for construction-related expenses for the other victim he was defrauding. Homeowners should trust that their contractors are operating with integrity and will follow through on their agreements.”
DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, the defendant, and his company, PBF Home Improvements, LLC., entered into a home improvement contract with a homeowner on or about July 25, 2019, for the demolition and new construction of the victim’s home on Arizona Avenue in Long Beach. The victim gave the defendant $852,095 per the contract to be used solely for the construction project. The defendant allegedly did not complete the construction of the home.
A review of bank records for the period between August 5, 2019, and January 19, 2021, revealed that the defendant allegedly spent in excess of $170,000 of the homeowner’s funds on expenses related to other construction jobs and personal expenses, including loan payments, marine insurance, attorney fees, restaurant bills, tuition, and child support.
The defendant also allegedly made cash withdrawals and transferred assets into his own bank account.
In an earlier alleged scheme, the defendant entered into a contract with another homeowner for a construction project on California Street in Long Beach beginning in November 2017. The victim homeowner gave Ferrigan approximately $268,000 to be used solely for the construction on her home. The defendant allegedly did not complete construction of the home.
A subsequent review of bank records for the period between September 30, 2020, and October 27, 2020, revealed the defendant allegedly misappropriated approximately $28,000 of the victim’s funds for business and personal expenses unrelated to the construction project, including airline tickets, jewelry, loan payments, and for expenses related to the construction project on Arizona Avenue.
Ferrigan surrendered to NCDA Detective Investigators in Mineola on November 13, 2023.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Investigative Counsel Jennifer Contreras of the Financial Crimes Bureau. Ferrigan is represented by David Arpino, Esq.
The charges against the defendant are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
