WOODLAND HILLS, CA — The dishonest owner of a Southern California carpet cleaning company recently pled guilty to 10 criminal counts associated with a bait-and-switch operation he ran under various company names, according to the
Los Angeles Times.
Sharon "Sean" Gilboa, who ran advertisements offering a three-room carpet cleaning for $49.95, was convicted of four counts of grand theft and six counts of false advertising, the story stated.
Santa Monica Deputy Attorney Adam Radinsky said: "This is a shameful scam. We caution everyone to use carpet cleaners only after verifying that the company is legitimate, with a real location, a local business license and a good rating with the
Better Business Bureau."
Gilboa's company has operated under various names, including: Clean Dry USA; Target Carpet Care; Clean N' Dry Carpet; and SoCal Dry-Tech, the story noted.
According to the release, Gilboa would send representatives employing strong-arm tactics to force customers, notably the elderly, into paying exuberantly higher prices than advertised.
After pleading guilty, Gilboa, who is barred from ever operating a cleaning business in the
State of California again, was sentenced to three years of probation, ordered to refund all known customers a total of more than $20,000 and will be required to perform 360 hours of hard-labor community service, the story added.
