Man pleads not guilty to bilking twins

An East Rockaway man accused of bilking 89-year-old twin brothers in Seaford out of more than $200,000 pleaded not guilty Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Robert Cohan, 26, of 705 Scranton Ave., East Rockaway, was arrested Friday, accused of working as an unlicensed contractor, Nassau County police said. He faced two counts of second-degree grand larceny; first-degree scheme to defraud; and not having the required contractor's license.

Police said Cohan took $14,000 from the victims to repair their driveway on Day Street last year, but then they told him in December that they wanted to cancel the work and get their money back because the weather was too cold.

"Cohan led the victims to believe in order to receive a refund that they would have to incur processing, transaction and restocking fees," police said in a statement. "The victims paid in excess of $200,000."

Cohan's attorney, Edward P. Jenks of Mineola, said after arraignment that Cohan posted bond of $7,500 Saturday and is scheduled to return to court June 4. Jenks also said Cohan, who has a wife and 4-year-old son, has no prior record.

With William Murphy