Community Corner

Prosecutor Files Charges Against Morristown-Based Contractor

Jorge Avila cited as a result of undercover investigation after Irene.

Jorge Avila, of Morristown, allegedly advertised and solicited home improvement work without being registered, according to the Bergen County Prosecutors Office as part of a multi-agency undercover investigation conducted on the heels of Tropical Storm Irene, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (NJDCA) said Wednesday.

NJDCA filed civil Notices of Violation against the contractors who, although having filed their businesses with the state, allegedly advertised and solicited home improvement work without being registered. 

In addition to Avila, operating as Toyo Construction, three other contractors also face civil penalties of $5,000 each:

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  • Niksa Dobre, advertising as Asseria Construction, in Totowa
  • Carlos Guarquila, advertising as CG General Construction, in Bellville
  • Ruben Silva, advertising as R&S Home Improvement, in Newark

Eight contractors also were charged by the Bergen County Prosecutors Office with operating unregistered home improvement operations: 

  • Gerard Carrion, advertising as “Reliable Handyman Service,” of Sparta
  • David Czeizinger, advertising as “Mr. D’s Home Improvement,” of Kearny  
  • Joseph Dellasala, of Hackensack
  • John Robbie, advertising as “John Robbie’s Carpentry Plus,” of North Arlington
  • Perlat Jera of Hasbrouck Heights, advertising as “Jera Home Improvement"
  • Maria Somma, advertising as “Chester & Maria,” of Cranford
  • Peter Varley, advertising as “Reliable Home Improvement,” of Annandale
  • Stan Stanley, of Wayne

In addition to allegedly operating as unregistered home improvement contractors, the eight individuals charged criminally were identified as not having any business information on file with the state, according to a statement released by the NJDCA. In New Jersey, the fourth-degree charge carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $10,000.

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The investigation conducted by the NJDCA in conjunction with the Lyndhurst Police Department, was done in order to “expose allegedly unregistered home improvement contractors seeking to capitalize on the August 2011 natural disaster that left many homeowners in desperate need of home repair help,” according to the statement.

NJDCA investigators posed as homeowners during the four-day undercover investigation in October, which was staged at a Lyndhurst Cape Cod-style home which had “suffered extensive structural and mold damage as a result of flood waters from Tropical Storm Irene,” according to the statement. The investigators responded to home repair advertisements inviting a total of 16 contractors to visit the undercover house to examine the damage and provide repair estimates, according to NJDCA.

NJDCA reports that the investigation found that 12 contractors who arrived at the undercover home “allegedly were not registered to perform any residential home improvement work. But their lack of state-mandated annual registration did not prevent them from providing repair estimates exceeding $30,000 in some cases.”

A 2006 state law requires “anyone advertising or performing home improvement work to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs,” according to the statement. New Jersey's Contractors' Registration Act and Advertising Regulations require contractors to demonstrate they have a legitimate business address that is a street address, and at least $500,000 in liability insurance, before they can become registered.


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