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Father, Son Charged In Far-Reaching Roofing Contractor Scam

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- New charges have been issued in an alleged scam by a roofing contractor, who has been arrested along with his son.

As CBS 2's Lou Young reported exclusively Monday evening, Geno Delmaro hid inside his hoodie as he walked out of court in Peekskill after making bail. He is the son of prolific scam suspect Anthony Delmaro.

Geno Delmaro was busted last week in Harrison, and now faces additional charges for allegedly ripping off a contractor in Peekskill a month ago.

His attorney said the young man arrested along with his father is not a hardened criminal.

Attorney Scott Hersh called his client "a very nice, respectful, nice boy."

But police said the father-son team – along with Anthony Delmaro's new wife, Ruby Stevenson – have been wanted in a years-long spree that began when Geno Delmaro was still a minor.

"This charge is from recent history," Hersh said. "The charges that we're speaking about with his father are for 2009, when he was, what, 16 or 17."

Victims told CBS 2 the alleged scammers contacted them by unsolicited fax-flyers for various roofing companies. They would show up seemingly competent and pleasant, and the amounts they charged would vary. but the story always ends the same way.

"He told me it was going to be $850, and he says, 'So I need money to get the material, so I was trying to get this out of my way, so I gave him $700," said scam victim Joan King. "(He went to) go get the material, but he never came back."

The same thing allegedly happened to a Harrison couple, to the tune of $5,000. It also allegedly happened to dozens of victims in six other states.

Geno Delmaro said nothing at all when CBS 2's Young asked him about the charges. Anthony Delmaro remained in jail without bail Monday night in Peekskill, and both were due back in court last month.

The arrest was made by police in Harrison last week. Alleged victims have continued to come forward from Long Island to upstate New York.

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