FRANKLIN SQUARE, NY — A Franklin Square couple fell victim to a roof repair scam that cost them $20,000, but the scammer, Clifford Whitaker, was sentenced to just six months in jail, according to News 12.
The couple expressed frustration over the short sentence. “He needs to be in prison,” one victim said. “If he is loose, he is going to scam other people.”
Whitaker, president of New Dawn Construction, allegedly targeted the couple in March, falsely claiming their roof required urgent repairs. He initially quoted the work at about $2,500.
However, Whitaker and an accomplice returned multiple times over five days, claiming more damage and adding costly repairs that inflated the price to $129,000—an increase of over 5,000%.
The couple also received a fraudulent insurance document approving the work, but an investigation confirmed no legitimate insurance claim had been filed.
Whitaker was arrested on April 2 and pleaded not guilty. Despite the victims’ disappointment, he was sentenced to six months in jail.
