Operator of Carpet Cleaning Firm Sentenced in Fraud Case
The operator of a Canoga Park carpet cleaning firm has been sentenced to 75 days in jail on charges of fraud and false advertising, it was announced Tuesday.
Tamir Pinhas, 26, operator of Elephant Carpet Care, was also sentenced to 10 days on a Caltrans work crew and ordered to pay $8,643 in fines and restitution, Supervisor Mike Antonovich said.
In addition, Los Angeles Municipal Judge Stephen Marcus placed Pinhas on three years’ probation during the Dec. 18 sentencing hearing.
A jury convicted Pinhas of theft and false advertising Nov. 25.
The prosecution by the Los Angeles city attorney’s office was the result of an investigation by county consumer affairs officials, who had received 34 complaints against the business since 1993. The victims included elderly residents who said they were charged far more for carpet cleaning than what was advertised.
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