BALTIMORE, MD – A Derwood-based home improvement contractor, its owner, and a related company have been hit with over $4.5 million in penalties and restitution for taking payments from Maryland consumers and failing to complete promised work or provide refunds.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced the Final Order today against Optimum Construction, Inc., Optimum Interiors, Inc., and owner Amr “Omar” Elrahimy. The order, issued by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, stems from violations of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.
According to the Order:
* The companies and Elrahimy sent an unlicensed salesperson to consumers’ homes.
* They presented contracts that did not comply with Maryland law.
* They promised specific start and completion deadlines for home improvement projects.
* After taking substantial deposits and payments from consumers, they routinely failed to complete the work.
* Instead of using consumer payments for the projects, Elrahimy misappropriated the funds to finance a “lavish personal lifestyle” and unrelated businesses.
* They repeatedly misled consumers about the status of their projects and ultimately failed to issue refunds.
Consequences of the Order:
1. Restitution: Optimum Construction, Optimum Interiors, and Elrahimy must pay at least $2,007,459.27 in restitution to the affected consumers identified by the Consumer Protection Division. This amount is based on testimony and evidence from 20 consumers presented at the Office of Administrative Hearings.
2. Penalties: They must pay $2,452,000.00 in civil penalties.
3. Business Ban: They are prohibited from acting as home improvement contractors or sales representatives in Maryland unless they first post a $1,000,000.00 surety bond with the Consumer Protection Division.
“Optimum Construction, Optimum Interiors, and Mr. Elrahimy promised services, took Marylanders’ hard-earned money, and then utterly failed to deliver,” said Attorney General Brown. “This order demands significant restitution for the victims and imposes substantial penalties for their violations of our consumer protection laws.”
