Wait — I need to extract the full name from the source. The excerpt gives “Paul” but cuts off. Let me proceed with what’s available.
HEADLINE: Bohemia Man Paul [—] Charged With Stealing Money in Suffolk Construction Fraud Scheme
Let me re-read: “An Amityville woman hired Paul …” — the surname is cut off in the excerpt. I’ll use what’s confirmed.
HEADLINE: Bohemia Man Arrested for Posing as Construction Company Owner, Stealing Money From Amityville Woman
What Happened
A Bohemia man was arrested Monday, August 3, 2026, on charges that he fraudulently posed as a construction company owner and collected money from a victim for work he never performed, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.
Per the SCPD press release, an Amityville woman hired the suspect — identified by police as Paul — after he represented himself as the owner of a construction company. She paid him money for contracted work. That work was never completed, according to authorities.
The SCPD announced the arrest as part of its ongoing effort to address contractor fraud cases across Suffolk County. Police have not yet publicly released the suspect’s full surname, the specific dollar amount alleged to have been stolen, or the precise construction work the victim believed she was hiring him to perform.
The charge level and arraignment details were not included in the published excerpt of the press release. The full details of the arrest, including the specific criminal charges filed, are available through the Suffolk County Police Department’s official press release page.
Location & Road Context
This case involves two Long Island communities: the suspect is a resident of Bohemia, a hamlet in the Town of Islip in central Suffolk County, while the victim resides in Amityville, a village on Suffolk County’s South Shore in the Town of Babylon. Both fall within Suffolk County’s jurisdiction. Long Island Traffic’s local incident database contains 711 recorded accidents in Suffolk County — a reminder of the wide range of public-safety matters, including non-traffic criminal cases, handled by SCPD across the county.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The arrest was made and announced by the Suffolk County Police Department on Monday, August 3, 2026. The specific criminal charges, bail conditions, and arraignment information had not been fully disclosed in the available press release excerpt at the time of this report.
Under New York State law, contractor fraud schemes — in which an individual accepts payment for home improvement work without completing it — can be prosecuted as larceny, with the severity of the charge tied to the dollar amount allegedly stolen. Grand larceny in the fourth degree applies to theft exceeding $1,000; amounts over $3,000 elevate the charge to third degree. Police have not yet confirmed the precise charge level in this case.
Broader Impact
Construction and contractor fraud is a recurring issue on Long Island, particularly targeting homeowners seeking repairs or improvements. New York’s Home Improvement Contractor law requires contractors operating in Nassau and Suffolk counties to be licensed, and consumers can verify a contractor’s credentials before handing over any payment. Residents who suspect they have been victimized by a fraudulent contractor are encouraged to report it directly to the Suffolk County Police Department.