W. Islip landscaper pleads not guilty to fraud amid dozens of complaints
A West Islip landscaper took money from dozens of customers but failed to provide lawn maintenance and pest control services, Suffolk prosecutors said Tuesday.
Carlos Correa, 47, the operator of Perfectly Green Lawns Inc. at 123 West Fifth St. in West Islip, was indicted by a Suffolk County grand jury on charges of scheme to defraud, first-degree falsifying business records, petty larceny and engaging in a business as a home improvement contractor without a license, the district attorney's office said.
Correa pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead. He was ordered held by County Court Judge Gary Weber on $7,500 bond or $3,750 cash bail.
More than 40 consumer complaints are pending against Correa, the district attorney's office said.
Correa "engaged in a systematic, ongoing course of conduct whereby he solicited and accepted money for lawn maintenance and pesticide services and failed to provide any services to the consumers," District Attorney Thomas Spota said in a statement.
The indictment alleges Correa has defrauded customers since August 2008.
Attempts to reach Correa or his attorney were unsuccessful.
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