Hate-crime charges in homeowners scam

Two Long Island brothers were charged with hate crimes Wednesday for scamming $30,000 in a high-pressure chimney-repair scheme that targeted elderly homeowners in Queens, prosecutors said.

Bruce Wimmer, 29, of Holbrook, and Michael Christiano, 32, of Patchogue, were charged with grand larceny as a hate crime, grand larceny, possession of stolen property and operating a scheme to defraud, according to the Queens district attorney. The hate crime designation increases the grand larceny maximum sentence from 7 years to 15 years.

In one case, prosecutors said, the two exploited a 94-year-old woman living alone; first, they convinced her that her chimney needed repairs, charged her $2,850 and drove her to her bank to pick up cash. Then, they kept returning and demanding payment for more work, threatening to put a lien on her house and collecting an additional $8,630.

Altogether, the two brothers -- incorporated by Wimmer under the name Reliable Chimney -- allegedly stole more than $30,000 from three homeowners. The other alleged victims were 72 and 74.

The two Long Island men were not licensed, and an expert who examined the victims' chimneys and boilers concluded that the work was "minimal" and the fees were grossly inflated, said the DA's office.

Wimmer and Christiano were scheduled to be arraigned late Wednesday in Queens Criminal Court.

Vincent Trimarco, Christiano's lawyer, said his client was just a "hardworking employee" who defrauded no one, and called the hate crime designation "absolutely ridiculous."

SEE PHOTOSNotable LI crimes

Bruce Roistacher, Wimmer's lawyer, said the disputes over chimney work should be in civil court and his client didn't target old people.

"It's certainly not a hate crime," he said.