Imagine this: You’ve saved for years, planned every detail, and finally hired a contractor to turn your house into the home of your dreams.

But instead of a sparkling new kitchen or a cozy family room, you’re left with bare studs, exposed wires, and a gaping hole where your savings used to be.

For a family of five in a county, this nightmare became a harsh reality—one that forced them out of their home and into a cramped trailer, all thanks to a corrupt contractor and a fake document that fooled them.

Deanna Salentino and her family were like so many of us—hardworking, hopeful, and eager to invest in their future.

They hired Robert Cortese, a contractor who promised to transform their house in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.

Instead, he gutted their home, left nothing but red spray paint markings on the floor, and walked away with $90,000 of their hard-earned money.

The family, including a baby, was left to navigate exposed electrical wiring and unfinished rooms, with only a trailer to call home for months on end.

Deanna told Eyewitness News, “They did say that it is grand larceny, what degree not sure, but it is a felony, it’s a serious charge.” And serious it is—Cortese’s actions didn’t just cost the Salentinos their money; it upended their lives.

A contractor promised to revamp the family's home, but instead gutted it completely and disappeared. Image source: News 12 / YouTube

Sadly, Deanna’s family isn’t alone. Cortese has a history of unfinished projects and broken promises. Four years ago, he left another homeowner with a pile of rubble instead of a promised pool.

Authorities say he operated without a proper license and used forged permits to trick unsuspecting families. Now, he faces felony fraud charges and could spend up to seven years behind bars.

Also read: Elderly couple scammed out of $33K in roofing fraud—suspects in custody, but money still gone

But here’s the kicker: Cortese had no prior criminal record. That fact could influence his sentence, but it doesn’t erase the pain and chaos he’s caused.

He now appears on the local County Consumer Affairs Wall of Shame—a list of those convicted or accused of similar offenses.

Also read: This woman lost $2,000 to a no-show contractor–See the clever way she tracked him down using an application!

Expert Advice: Protecting Yourself from Fraud

Craig Costigan, CEO of fraud prevention firm NICE Actimize, offers these essential tips:

• Trust, But Verify: Always question unexpected texts, emails, or calls—especially those requesting personal information or payment. If your bank or a contractor contacts you, use official channels to verify their identity.
• Safeguard Your Personal Information: Keep your Social Security card, blank checks, and IDs secure. Don’t share sensitive information unless absolutely necessary.
• Stay Vigilant: Even the most cautious among us can encounter fraudsters. If you suspect a scam, report it immediately, change your passwords, and monitor your credit for unusual activity.
• Consider a Credit Freeze: If you’re not applying for new credit, freeze your credit reports with Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. This prevents scammers from opening accounts in your name.

Read next: She lost $51K to a home repair scam—what happened and how to protect yourself

Key Takeaways

• A family of five in Long Island, New York, was forced to live in a trailer after a dodgy contractor took $90,000, gutted their home, and left the job unfinished, exposing them to dangerous conditions.
• The contractor, Robert Cortese, has a history of similar dodgy dealings and now faces felony fraud charges, with possible jail time of up to seven years, after operating without a license and using fake permits.
• Fraud experts advise always verifying a contractor’s credentials and being wary of scams, including checking for scam emails, protecting personal information, and considering a credit freeze to prevent identity theft.
• The alleged victim is encouraging other people who may have been scammed by the same contractor to come forward and report their experiences to help with the ongoing investigation.

Have you ever had a close call with a home repair scam? Do you have tips for finding trustworthy contractors? Or maybe you’re dealing with a similar situation and need advice?

 

[Arkie98]

A few years ago there was a big scam in the midwest and got quite a few Seniors. Fed them big meals and alot of high pressure talks. For every thousand you give us, we can make you five thousand. Let us manage your securities, savings etc and we can make you so much more than you are now getting. A few farmers lost their farms and my Aunt just about got suckered in. Her so called agent had quite a spiel. I talked to her Son and all was stopped before it became an issue.