Two pest and home ventilation contractors were charged Wednesday in a scheme to defraud elderly customers in the Valley and elsewhere in L.A. County.
Eldad Syton, owner of Pacific Air Care in Tarzana and other companies, and accomplice Yair Zilberman, allegedly convinced elderly people to sign contracts for residential pest control services at a set price, according to the district attorney’s office. Later, the victims were told they had mold, termite infestations or other problems and entered into new contracts for large amounts of money for work that was never performed, prosecutors said.
Together, they face more than 40 counts for charges of elder theft and burglary with a victim present. The losses to the elderly victims defrauded by the defendants add up to nearly $500,000, prosecutors allege.
If convicted, both defendants face a maximum 36-year prison term.
The case was investigated by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Los Angeles Police Department, Burbank Police Department, Whittier Police Department and Santa Monica Police Department. The defendants were arraigned at Los Angeles County Superior Court in Van Nuys.