NY Man Charged in Chimney Scam Turns Himself in to Police

One of the New York men arrested by police in January for his alleged involvement in a chimney cleaning scam has been re-arrested on a warrant for his failure to appear in court on those initial charged, New Canaan Police Sgt. Carol Ogrinc said Monday.

According to Ogrinc, Paul W. Scalia turned himself in to New Canaan police on April 1 on felony first-degree failure to appear charges after missing his initial court date on March 25.

Scalia was part of a trio that allegedly attempted to conduct repair and cleaning work at a residence on Mariomi Road. The resident told police two men appeared at her door and identified themselves as employees from All American Maintenance and Restoration and told her she needed $3,200 in work done to her chimney.

After issuing a check to them in the amount of $1,000 as a deposit, the woman contacted police, who visited the area on the date the construction was supposed to begin, Jan. 24.

At that time, all three men—Frederick Dapice, 41, of 14 Laurel Road, Lindenhurst, NY, Paul Scalia, 35, of 217 Vernon Valley Road, East Northport, NY, and Robert Houlahan, 45, of 700 Nicholls Road, Deer Park, NY—were arrested. Each was charged with second-degree larceny, home improvement without a certificate of registration, working without a building permit and failure to obtain a tax permit.

Scalia was held on a $10,000 bond after turning himself in, and appeared in court Apr. 2. Houlahan was scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 25, while Dapice was scheduled to appear on Feb. 6.