Head of Carpet-Care Scam Gets Jail Term

A Canoga Park man convicted of running a carpet business scam has been sentenced to 75 days in jail, 10 days on a work crew and three years of probation and been fined nearly $9,000, the city attorney’s office said.

Tamir Pinhas, 26, received the sentence from Los Angeles Municipal Judge Stephen Marcus last week. He was convicted on one count of theft and four counts of false advertising on Nov. 25, City Atty. James Hahn said in a statement.

Prosecutors said he advertised low prices and then charged victims--often elderly people living alone--much higher prices.

A 93-year-old Rancho Palos Verdes man testified that he thought he had agreed to $50 worth of cleaning by Pinhas’ Canoga Park business, Elephant Carpet Care.

When technicians arrived at the man’s home, he said they gave him a contract for more than $900, according to Deputy City Atty. Keith De La Rosa.

Other victims from various parts of the county reported being overcharged by hundreds of dollars each.

After receiving several dozen consumer complaints about Elephant Carpet Care between 1993 and early this year, the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs launched an investigation that led to the charges against Pinhas.

County investigators testified that company workers used high-pressure sales techniques and verbal intimidation to collect the higher prices.