Alledged Five Towns scammer arrested

Christopher Picone, who allegedly scammed several Five Towns during the winter, was arrested on March 25, police said.

Picone, 32, began contacting people on Dec. 5 of last year through cell phone calls and social media posts and offering snow removal services for the winter and performing other handy work, according to police.

Police are now saying that Picone contacted at least 15 people, who then paid for his expected services in advance. He never showed on multiple occasions to perform the work, and then disconnected his phone.

A portion of the people who were allegedly scammed registered complaints with the 4th Precinct in Hewlett. The subsequent investigation found Picone, listed as a Hewlett resident on his Facebook page, living in Middle Village, Queens were he was taken into custody.

He is charged with two of first-degree scheme to defraud and third-degree grand larceny. Picone will be arraigned on March 25, at First District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead.  

Police are asking if anyone thinks they might have been a victim of a similar crime to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1(800) 244-8478 or 911. All calls are confidential.