An unregistered contractor scammed elderly customers into paying for pricey chimney repairs that were never completed and provided shoddy work, including one case where a family was forced from their home because of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, officials said Wednesday.
Acting Attorney General John Hoffman and Division of Consumer Affairs Director Steve Lee speak to a group of seniors about scams that target the elderly on Friday, Nov. 6. (S.P. Sullivan | NJ Advance Media)
A state Superior Court Judge on Thursday granted a preliminary injunction freezing the assets of Leroy N. Brown, who did business as B&K Masonry & Chimney, and barred him from doing home improvement work in New Jersey, according to officials.
"It is no exaggeration to say the public's health and safety were endangered by Mr. Brown and the illegal and substandard work he performed," Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said in a statement. "Through the legal action we have taken and the recent court decision, Brown can no longer put other consumers, especially elderly consumers, at risk."
Brown misrepresented himself as "licensed and registered" and claimed "[a]ll work is guaranteed" on the B&K Masonry & Chimney website, according to the state complaint. He made unsolicited calls to the elderly looking for chimney work at a discount, had a company representative pose as an inspector and tell a prospective client she needed to have her chimney liner replaced or she would not be permitted to use her furnace and could face fines, the complaint alleged.
"This unregistered contractor allegedly lied to consumers again and again so that he could line his pockets with profits without doing substantive work," acting state Consumer Affairs Director Steve Lee said. "He allegedly went so far as to target the elderly and to have an employee misrepresent himself as a government inspector to convince a consumer to get unnecessary repairs."
Brown -- who operated businesses in Teaneck, Babylon, New York and West Babylon, New York -- was accused of multiple violations of the Consumer Fraud Act and Home Improvement Contractors' Registration Act. Officials said he could face "enhanced civil penalties" because he allegedly preyed on senior citizens.
State officials said Brown also took payments for work that he never started, didn't finish jobs he was already paid for, and performed work in a "substandard, and at times, dangerous, manner" among other violations.
"At least one family was allegedly forced to flee their home because of high levels of carbon monoxide inside the dwelling following chimney liner work performed by Brown," according to state officials.
Brown could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
