Unlicensed RVC Contractor Arraigned for Theft

Knott charged with stealing nearly $40K intended for home renovations in Oyster Bay Cove and Muttontown

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today the arrest and arraignment of a Rockville Centre home improvement contractor accused of stealing nearly $40,000 from two customers, and of operating his business without a license.

Keith Knott, 35, of Rockville Centre, was arrested May 20 and charged with two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and two counts of Operating a Home Improvement Business Without a License. He was arraigned in District Court before Judge David Goodsell. Bail was set at $6,000 bond or $3,000 cash. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.

Knott’s arrest is the result of a five-month investigation into complaints from homeowners in Oyster Bay Cove and Muttontown. In the Oyster Bay Cove case, the homeowner contracted with Knott to install a new bathroom in his home, as well as new carpeting, tile and custom cabinets from May to September 2007.  Knott pocketed the $25,000 the homeowner put down as a down payment.  No work was performed on the home.

The Muttontown homeowner gave Knott an $8,000 down payment on a $21,000 built-in wall unit in November 2007. The cabinet maker that was supposedly contracted to perform the work was never contacted and the work was never performed.

“When you hire an unlicensed contractor, you’re rolling the dice,” Rice said, adding that consumers should thoroughly research home contractors before someone is hired.  “We are very aggressive on these cases and we will continue to work hard to hold these unscrupulous businesses accountable.  Mr. Knott will now face the consequences of swindling these two homeowners.”

 Handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office is Assistant District Attorney Vickie Curran of the DA’s Government & Consumer Frauds Bureau.  Knott is being represented by Steve Limmer, Esq.

The charges against Knott are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.