BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has filed a lawsuit alleging fraudulent activities against Champion Fuel and Service Corp., its owners, David DeSilva Sr. and Patrick Terminello, and DeSilva’s son, David DeSilva Jr., who managed the company.
According to Schneiderman’s office, the defendants conducted a fraudulent, illegal and deceptive business scheme while operating the Wappingers Falls-based home heating oil business. Beginning in April 2014, the defendants received pre-payments for home heating oil and oil burner services, which were supposed to help consumers through the winter of 2014-15.
The defendants allegedly never provided the services, however, and if they did so, only a fraction of the necessary deliveries occurred. Champion consumers allegedly paid for more than $80,000 in heating oil and oil burner services that were never actually delivered to them.
"My office will aggressively pursue unscrupulous businesses that fail to provide the services consumers have paid for,” Schneiderman said. “Consumers deserve companies that will deliver on the services they’ve promised, not ones that bilk them for their money.”
Schneiderman’s office seeks nearly $83,000 in restitution for more than 80 consumers. The company is no longer in business.
Handling the case for the state is Assistant Attorney General Sandra Giorno-Tocco, with the assistance of consumer protection representative John Katzenstein and intern Scott Trivella, and investigators Ralph Dorismond and Michael Christian.