NORWICH, N.Y. — On Oct. 31, New York State Police at the Norwich Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) arrested a contractor for allegedly defrauding homeowners and bilking them out of more than $33,000.
Police charged Michael N. Salamey, 37, of Frankfort (Herkimer County), with two counts of third-degree grand larceny, one count of first-degree scheme to defraud, and one count of petit larceny after a months-long investigation.
According to the investigation, Salamey entered into a contract to complete improvements at a home in Sherburne in Chenango County. The homeowners paid Salamey more than $33,000, but he did not finish the work and eventually stopped communicating with his clients.
Police allege that Salamey also paid a land survey company he hired to complete a survey of the home with a check drawn on an account with insufficient funding and failed to fully compensate a subcontractor he hired to complete some work at the residence.
Salamey was arraigned in Norwich City Court and is scheduled to appear in Sherburne Village Court on Nov. 16.
Other charges in a nearby county
Salamey was also indicted on Aug. 2 on similar charges in Delaware County, according to Acting District Attorney Shawn Smith, who noted he has already been in contact with the Norwich BCI. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Department investigated this case.
The two-count indictment charged Salamey with second-degree grand larceny, alleging he stole more than $360,000 from a property owner in the town of Roxbury.
According to a press release from Smith, Salamey allegedly entered into a contract to install a septic system, underground electric utilities, foundations, and small homes, and billed for completing the work. After paying the bill in full, the property owner visited the property and discovered none of the work had been done.
Salamey stopped communicating with the customer and was unable to be located, according to Smith.
He pleaded not guilty to both charges at arraignment and was released to the supervision of the Delaware County Probation Department. The next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 19 for that case.