Thrusday, December 24, 1998
Repair scam costs owners thousands
Police say suspect is a smooth talker
BY TANYA BRICKING
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Reza Kamrani
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Even a retired police officer fell into the trap of a man authorities say is a smooth-talking con artist.
The trail of Reza Kamrani has led police from Greater Cincinnati all the way to a Nevada casino, and the thefts he's accused in so far add up to more than $15,000.
Now local police are looking for more victims.
Authorities say Mr. Kamrani, 31, has stolen from people across the Tristate in a home-repair scheme selling windows, storm doors and siding. He last lived in Independence and has been tracked from Northern Kentucky to Hamilton, Butler, Clermont and Montgomery counties.
Since June, police say, he has requested money upfront for jobs he never completed. He pleaded guilty to theft charges in Hamilton County but never showed up for sentencing Dec. 3.
A tip led police to him at a Mesquite, Nev., casino on Dec. 12. He faces charges there and then is expected to return to Cincinnati to face more charges.
He also faces charges in Independence involving stolen checks of an ex-girlfriend.
Some people who have given Mr. Kamrani money for home repairs that fell through say they are too embarrassed to have their names published.
But William Folkerth says even retired cops can be swindled.
“It can be done,” said Mr. Folkerth, 83, a former Dayton, Ohio, police sergeant who lives in Trotwood.
Mr. Kamrani posed as a salesman for Primax, a window company where Mr. Folkerth bought windows, and when they struck a deal on the doors, he asked for a personal check, Mr. Folkerth said.
“I've never talked to a nicer-talking guy in my life,” he said. “He even recommended a Cincinnati doctor for my wife.”
Mr. Folkerth closed his checking account after $7,000 worth of checks had been written. He's recovered only $2,500, and he never got the doors he ordered.
In Colerain Township, Terrence Lyons Sr. feels snookered as well.
When Mr. Kamrani was working for a window company, he helped install a bay window in Mr. Lyons' home. Then he came back asking the family to order more windows and to write him a check. Mr. Lyons says the windows never arrived, and he is out a down payment of $1,500.
“His scam is he works for a window company for a few weeks and then takes off with their invoices,” Mr. Lyons said.
Mr. Kamrani has been using sales contracts without permission from several companies, said Mike Horton, a detective with the Hamilton County sheriff's office.
They are legitimate companies, including Creative Exteriors, The Window Man and Primax. Police say that Mr. Kamrani, instead of having checks made out to the companies, asks his victims to write checks to him.
Even when he was out of jail on bond pending indictments, he was out bilking more people, Detective Horton said.
He estimates 10 to 20 more victims in the area have been swindled.
Crime Stoppers detectives now are part of the case. People who think they have been cheated are asked to call the hot line at 352-3040.
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