Delaware News

DOJ Consumer Protection Unit Prosecuting Sussex Home Improvement Fraud Case, Looking for Other Potential Victims

Consumer Protection | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Fraud | Date Posted: Friday, September 7, 2018



The Consumer Protection Unit (CPU) of the Delaware Department of Justice is pursuing criminal charges against a Sussex County-based contractor accused of defrauding multiple Delaware homeowners.

Charges currently pending against Sergio Izzo, Jr., 32, of Lewes, include 4 counts of Theft, 2 counts of Issuing a Bad Check, 2 counts of Home Improvement Fraud, 2 counts of Unlawful Use of a Payment Card, 2 counts of Forgery Second Degree, 2 counts of Criminal Impersonation, and 1 count of Providing False Statements to Hinder an Investigation. Izzo conducted business as Izzo & Son Turf Company, LLC, based in Long Neck.

Allegations in the cases are the Izzo accepted payment from several different victims for home improvement work that he then did not substantially complete, and did not provide refunds. The charges also related to allegations that unauthorized charges were made to customer credit cards, and that he accepted delivery of materials from a building supply company and failed to pay for them.

DOJ Consumer Protection urges other homeowners who believe they may have a similar complaint about Izzo or Izzo & Son Turf Company, LLC, or have information to share with authorities, to contact DOJ Special Investigator Dan Daly at (302)752-3215.

Generally, DOJ Consumer Protection advises Delawareans hiring a contractor for home improvement work to be alert for scams, and help avoid them by doing homework before hiring a contractor:

  • Contractors should always be bonded and maintain all required licenses for mechanical work
  • Get references and follow up on them
  • Talk to friends and neighbors about a contractor’s reputation
  • Never pay for the work in cash or in full up front

If consumers suspect they are a victim of home improvement fraud, they should contact their local law enforcement agency to make a police report.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.

DOJ Consumer Protection Unit Prosecuting Sussex Home Improvement Fraud Case, Looking for Other Potential Victims

Consumer Protection | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Fraud | Date Posted: Friday, September 7, 2018



The Consumer Protection Unit (CPU) of the Delaware Department of Justice is pursuing criminal charges against a Sussex County-based contractor accused of defrauding multiple Delaware homeowners.

Charges currently pending against Sergio Izzo, Jr., 32, of Lewes, include 4 counts of Theft, 2 counts of Issuing a Bad Check, 2 counts of Home Improvement Fraud, 2 counts of Unlawful Use of a Payment Card, 2 counts of Forgery Second Degree, 2 counts of Criminal Impersonation, and 1 count of Providing False Statements to Hinder an Investigation. Izzo conducted business as Izzo & Son Turf Company, LLC, based in Long Neck.

Allegations in the cases are the Izzo accepted payment from several different victims for home improvement work that he then did not substantially complete, and did not provide refunds. The charges also related to allegations that unauthorized charges were made to customer credit cards, and that he accepted delivery of materials from a building supply company and failed to pay for them.

DOJ Consumer Protection urges other homeowners who believe they may have a similar complaint about Izzo or Izzo & Son Turf Company, LLC, or have information to share with authorities, to contact DOJ Special Investigator Dan Daly at (302)752-3215.

Generally, DOJ Consumer Protection advises Delawareans hiring a contractor for home improvement work to be alert for scams, and help avoid them by doing homework before hiring a contractor:

  • Contractors should always be bonded and maintain all required licenses for mechanical work
  • Get references and follow up on them
  • Talk to friends and neighbors about a contractor’s reputation
  • Never pay for the work in cash or in full up front

If consumers suspect they are a victim of home improvement fraud, they should contact their local law enforcement agency to make a police report.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.