By Angela Marshall
Lawrence McGrath of 76 Whitehall Road was charged with two counts of grand larceny in the second degree, two counts of grand larceny in the third degree and three counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
One woman, Ann Byer, is living in a trailer on her front lawn because repairs to her Freeport home were never made. A law clerk for her attorney, Jonathan Wilkofsky, said McGrath, a contractor, came to her after a December fire last year offering his services.
According to the law clerk, Christopher Dylewsik, when Byers insurance claim check for $95,655.03 came, McGrath said he would take it for deposit at her mortgagee, Delta Funding. Instead, McGrath allegedly forged the banks endorsement and deposited it in his own account at the State Bank of Long Island.
Dylewsik said minimal work was done on Byers house, a few days of demolition, but that it was never finished.
Between July 2000 and April 2001, McGrath is alleged to have taken insurance claim checks from at least three other families whose homes were damaged by fires. District Attorney Denis Dillon said in a press release that in two of the other cases McGrath reportedly forged endorsements on the checks, which were for $40,000 and $59,971.28.
He subsequently spent the money and did no repairs on their homes, Dillon said.
East Rockaway resident Jack Irwin also said he was swindled by McGrath.
Irwins home had been damaged by a fire two years ago and he was unhappy with his contractor so it was suggested by friends that he hire a public adjuster. A few said McGrath had done well by then, Irwin said. So he hired him.
McGrath suggested that their was some addition work that could be done to his basement and told Irwin he was also a contractor. When an insurance claim check for $14,552.58 was delivered to Irwin, McGrath suggested he would be willing to cash it and hold the majority of the money in escrow until he completed the basement work, Irwin said.
McGrath gave Irwin a check for $2,552.58 and put the rest in his own account, Irwin said. But he never completed the work.
Finally, Irwin started calling McGrath asking him when he would be coming. For three months, Irwin said, he listened to excuse after excuse, then he asked McGrath to just return the money. When he did not, Irwin called the DA.
I just feel as if the man betrayed me completely, Irwin said.
He is not alone. Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Meister said they became interested in McGrath when a number of complaints were filed against him.
There are many other victims of Mr. McGrath, Meister said.
Some of the additional complaints alleged by other victims say work done by McGrath was so poor it has to be redone but there is no money from the victims insurance checks left to pay for it, according to Meister.
McGrath was arraigned in First District Court on Dec. 20 and released without bail. His next court date is Jan. 29.
McGrath did not immediately return calls and his attorney Adrian DiLuzio of Mineola declined to comment.
Jeff Greenfield, president of the Council of Insurance Brokers of Greater New York, said just like in any industry there are good and bad people. I always tell fire victims to check with their professional insurance agent before engaging any public adjusters, he said.
Residents can also call the county consumer office at (516) 571-3871 to check for complaints against vendors.
