Officials: LI husband-wife contractors charged in fraud

A Long Island contractor couple and a Queens businessman were charged Tuesday with stealing from the state by submitting more than $200,000 in false invoices, state officials said.

Charles Angelillo Jr., 40, and his wife, Carol Angelillo, 39, owner and office manager, respectively, of Classic Air Conditioning and Heating in Eastport, and Anthony Cuccinello, 46, owner of AM/PM Supply Corp. of Maspeth, were arraigned on grand larceny and other felony charges for emergency contracts for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning needs from 2010 to 2012, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a news release.

Almost from the start, the Angelillos submitted bills for equipment they never purchased, officials said, and later they forged invoices to double or triple the actual amount.

In 2011, the couple got Cuccinello to join their scam, officials said.

The Angelillos were each charged with 41 felony counts, including third-degree grand larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument and falsifying business records.

Their attorneys, James Pascarella of Huntington and Dara Orlando of Hauppauge, said they denied the charges.

Cuccinello was charged with eight felony counts, including grand larceny.

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A call to his office was not returned and his attorney could not be reached. All three were charged with misdemeanor fifth-degree conspiracy and released on their own recognizance.