VAN NUYS : Limousine Firm Charged With Theft

The owners of a Van Nuys limousine company have been charged with misdemeanor theft after more than a dozen customers complained that they had been overcharged or had prepaid for limos that never showed up.

Granada Hills residents Alexander Kamenetsky, 56, and his son, Leonard Kamenetsky, 22, who own Deja Vue Limousine, face a Nov. 9 arraignment in Los Angeles Superior Court on charges of grand theft, attempted grand theft and making false and misleading statements.

They face a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine for each of the first two counts, and six months in jail and a $2,500 fine for the third count.

Charges were filed as a result of a yearlong investigation by the state Public Utilities Commission, which regulates limousine service.

Linda Vaisa, an investigator for the PUC, said more than 16 complaints had been filed by customers against the company. A commission hearing is scheduled Dec. 7 to consider revoking Deja Vue’s permit, she said.

She noted that a another company with a similar name--Cudahy-based Deja Vu--is not related and is not under investigation.

According to court records, one victim complained that she had been quoted a rate of $90 for four hours of service, then was charged $170 on the day of the service. She paid the bill in cash, but later discovered that her credit card also had been charged $210.