Crime Watch

Former Wantagh contractor pleads guilty

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A contractor and former Wantagh resident has admitted bilking Nassau County residents out of thousands of dollars for home repairs that he never completed.

Charles Ganzenmuller, 38, who now lives in Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty last week to several charges in Nassau County court, including first-degree scheme to defraud, a felony, and operating a home improvement business without a license. According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office, Ganzenmuller charged homeowners $15,200 for heating and air conditioning repairs that never took place.

He is set to be sentenced on Oct. 10. If Ganzenmuller makes full restitution to his victims before then, he will sentenced only on the misdemeanor count to a conditional discharge.

According to the District Attorney’s office, Ganzenmiller solicited work and entered into contracts with several Nassau County homeowners between Jan. 4 and May 25, 2012. He claimed he owned companies named Assured Air Conditioning and Alliance Air Conditioning.

One homeowner in Massapequa Park paid Ganzenmuller $2,000 as a down payment to install a new boiler, but never did the work, according to the District Attorney. An East Rockaway homeowner was out $5,400 after making a down payment to Ganzenmuller to provide indoor and outdoor cooling units, along with other work.

The homeowners filed complaints with the Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs, which ultimately referred the cases to District Attorney Kathleen Rice for further investigation. By that point, Ganzenmuller’s companies were no longer in business. An investigation revealed that neither company held a valid home improvement license when he entered into contract with homeowners.

Ganzenmuller reportedly works as an employee for a construction company in Pennsylvania. His attorney, Gleenn Ingoglia, did not return a call seeking comment.