Man Wanted for Targeting Gwinnett Businesses in Fraud Scheme

Gwinnett County fire investigators believe a Brunswick, Ga., man may have targeted dozens of minority-owned business in a fraud scheme involving bogus invoices for work supposedly ordered by the fire marshal.

Philip Delisi, 36, is wanted for one count of Theft by Taking, but Gwinnett Fire spokesman Capt. Tommy Rutledge said there may be more charges.

Fire investigators think Delisi may have contacted 50 or more businesses in the Norcross, Duluth, Suwanee, Buford, Lawrenceville and Grayson areas.

Investigators were made aware of the possible fraud scheme when a Gwinnett restaurant owner came forward after paying several hundred dollars for alleged work to correct a potential fire hazard. The owner was told the work was ordered by the fire marshal and to pay cash to close out the invoice, Rutledge said in a news release.

Rutledge said the man contacted the owner by phone and made arrangements for an associate to pick up the money. Investigators identified Delisi as both men. He was identified via telephone records and a positive ID in a photo lineup.

Investigators say there could be more victims, and charges.

“Some of the businesses identified by investigators reported being contacted by Delesi, but denied making a payment. In each occurrence, Delisi leads the business operator to believe that he’s either an owner of the property or a contractor for the company that completed the work and is collecting payment on the invoice,” Rutledge said in the news release. “Though he hasn’t been labeled as impersonating a public official, he has stated that the work was done by order of the fire marshal.”

Rutledge said the majority of Delisi’s contacts have been with Korean, Vietnamese and Hispanic businesses in Gwinnett, and many of those were restaurants. Investigators are checking with those businesses, as well as with jurisdictions outside of Gwinnett.

“At this point, we know of one confirmed fraudulent transaction, but investigators feel that there may be more based on the number of contacts obtained through phone records,” Rutledge said in the news release. “Investigators are visiting a number of businesses who had contact with Delisi to determine whether any fraudulent transactions took place.”

Anyone with information about the case or any individual who believes they have been a victim is asked to contact the Gwinnett Fire Investigations Section at 678.518.4890.

Fire officials encourage business owners/operators and property owners to be alert to fraudulent activity and to verify the work invoice before making a payment. Report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.

Photo: Philip Delisi; Gwinnett Fire PIO