A Queens construction company owner has been charged with allegedly attempting to scam an elderly Franklin Square couple out of $129,000 through a roofing repair scheme and provided them with a fraudulent insurance claim approval purporting to be from a legitimate insurance company.
On March 8, 2025, Clifford Whitaker, president of New Dawn Construction, solicited an 80-year-old man and his 71-year-old wife at their residence in Franklin Square, claiming that he noticed several shingles of their roof needed repair. After inspecting the roof, Whitaker allegedly told the couple that there was damage to the roof and the cost to repair it would be approximately $2,500.
Whitaker and another individual — who was never caught — allegedly returned to the home several times, claiming additional damage, and increasing the price for repairs up to $129,000.
On March 10, Whitaker asked for one of the victim’s email addresses to allegedly put them in contact with a Liberty Mutual representative who would approve an insurance claim for $129,000 in repairs. The victims received a document shortly after through email that allegedly purported to be from Liberty Mutual approving the construction work.
The investigation determined that a legitimate insurance claim was never filed with Liberty Mutual, and that the insurance document was fraudulent.
An investigation into the unapprehended second suspect is ongoing.
Whitaker, 43, was arrested on April 2 by detectives of the Nassau County Police Department’s Fifth Squad. He was arraigned on April 3 before Judge Ryan Cronin on charges of Insurance Fraud in the Second Degree (a Class C felony); Attempted Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (a Class D felony); Scheme to Defraud in the Second Degree and Forgery in the Third Degree (both Class A misdemeanors).
Whitaker pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $50,000 cash, $125,000 bond and $250,000 partially secured bond. He was ordered to surrender his passport. He is due back in court on April 7. If convicted, he faces up to 2-1/3 to 7 years in prison.
“This defendant allegedly took advantage of a trusting elderly couple, telling them their roof needed repairs and continuing to visit their home, piling on additional construction, and increasing the price of the work more than 5,000% over the course of five days,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “I have seen so many cases in my decades as a prosecutor of scam artists preying on our seniors and duping them out of their life savings. It is deplorable. As the weather heats up, more scammers will be knocking on doors around Nassau County trying similar schemes. Do not become a victim. If a construction company knocks on your door soliciting for work, slam it shut and call law enforcement.”
Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by the defendant is asked to contact NCDA’s Criminal Complaints Unit at 516-571-3505.