CANOGA PARK : Man Accused of Defrauding Builders
A Canoga Park man accused of bilking six contractors out of thousands of dollars was arrested Wednesday, a spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorney’s office said.
Howard Leonard Perry, 52, was taken into custody in front of his Canoga Park home on charges he sold top-quality doors and windows for construction projects and then delivered inferior products or nothing at all, said Ted Goldstein, a spokesman for the city attorney’s office.
Perry faces six counts of illegally diverting money for construction of improvements and three counts of making false statements, Goldstein said.
If convicted of the crimes, Perry could face up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine for each count of diverting funds and up to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine for each count of making false statements, Goldstein said.
To operate his scam, Perry used bogus companies, including Capital Door and Window Co., Regal Door and Window Co. and Glenwood Door & Window, Goldstein said.
At times, Perry also posed as a salesman for two legitimate companies, Goldstein said.
Six contractors told Los Angeles detectives they lost a total of $27,000 as a result of deals they made with Perry beginning in August, 1989, Goldstein said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
