A Bohemia man was arrested Monday after police said he falsely claimed to own a construction company and collected $16,500 for a storefront renovation that was never started.
Paul Sanderson, 40, was hired by an Amityville woman to renovate a storefront at Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, Suffolk County police said.
Sanderson went to the woman’s home and presented what police described as forged insurance documents before accepting a $16,500 payment on March 30.
Police said Sanderson never delivered construction materials or began the renovation.
The woman later contacted the legitimate construction company she believed she had hired and learned Sanderson was not affiliated with the business. She reported the incident to police on June 16.
Financial Crimes Unit detectives investigated the allegations and arrested Sanderson on Aug. 3.
He was charged with third-degree grand larceny and first-degree identity theft.
Sanderson was scheduled to be arraigned Monday at First District Court in Central Islip.
Anyone who believes they may also have been victimized by Sanderson is asked to contact Financial Crimes Unit detectives at 631-852-6821.
The charges are accusations, and Sanderson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
