Smithtown Contractor Pleads Guilty To Scamming Sandy Victims: DA

NASSAU COUNTY, NY - A home improvement contractor from Smithtown pleaded guilty on Thursday to scamming Superstorm Sandy victims out of more than $100,000, according to Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.

Lee Moser, 49, pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Robert Bogle to third degree grand larceny and first degree scheme to defraud, the DA said.

He is due back in court July 12.

Moser is expected to be sentenced to 45 days in jail and 5 years’ probation if he pays restitution in the amount of $50,000 to New York Rising, the state program that assists homeowners impacted by natural disasters, with remaining restitution to be made through probation, the DA said.

If he does not pay restitution, he is expected to be sentenced to one year in jail.

Between April 2015 and August 2016, Moser signed contracts with five Nassau County homeowners to perform work on their homes that had been severely damaged during Superstorm Sandy.

In most of the cases, the homeowners wrote him a down payment check, with New York Rising funds, made payable to his business, Capstone Remodeling.

Instead of performing the work as promised, Moser provided excuses as to why the work had not started, including that he was in the hospital or caring for his sick mother, the DA said.

In total, he is accused of stealing $113,485 from the homeowners.

Moser spent the money on gas, restaurants, telephone service and other expenditures to continue running his business unrelated to the homeowners’ respective contracts.

The investigation began after Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs sent complaints from the five victims to the NCDA between June 2016 and April 2017.

Moser, who is currently unlicensed, has not yet repaid any of the funds, the DA said.

“Superstorm Sandy savaged our communities, and contractors who defraud those who suffered from the storm’s wrath are especially despicable,” Singas said. “This unscrupulous defendant took his victims’ money to help them rebuild, regaled them with excuses for delay, and never performed the work."

Photo: NCDA