A Long Island family’s dream renovation has turned into a nightmare after they say the contractor they hired gutted their home and disappeared with nearly $100,000 of their money. Deanna Salentino, her husband, and their three children are now living in a camper parked behind their house on Winston Court in Shoreham, N.Y., according to a story by Danielle Antosz.

“It’s misery,” Salentino told News 12. “I thought I was supposed to be moving into my house today. It’s awful.”

The Salentinos hired Robert Cortese of Tool Time Construction to transform their home and paid him $96,200 in May. Cortese began by tearing out walls, but according to the family, all work stopped shortly after. They say no materials were ordered and no progress was made. Instead, they were left with exposed studs, loose wiring, and missing doors and railings.

Contractor remodeling fraud has become an increasing concern across the United States, with thousands of homeowners reporting that builders took large deposits, performed minimal work, or abandoned projects entirely. According to consumer protection agencies, unlicensed or uninsured contractors are often at the center of these schemes, leaving families financially devastated and without legal recourse. Experts advise homeowners to verify licenses, check references, and avoid paying large upfront sums—yet even vigilant consumers can fall victim to sophisticated scams that exploit the booming home renovation market.

When News 12 visited Cortese at his home to ask about the allegations, he denied wrongdoing, calling the accusations “a lie,” before asking reporters to leave. He provided no further explanation.

Salentino later learned that Cortese appears on Suffolk County Consumer Affairs' “Wall of Shame,” a public list identifying individuals operating as contractors without proper licenses. Cortese’s entry—listing Tool Time Construction Group and his addresses—shows he was added in June 2023, well before the family hired him.

Consumer Affairs Commissioner Wayne Rogers told Newsday that the county maintains a fund allowing homeowners to recover up to $5,000 when licensed contractors perform poor work. However, because Cortese is unlicensed, the Salentinos do not qualify for any reimbursement.

Now the family remains in their camper as a newly hired contractor attempts to salvage the project—an effort complicated by the need to undo Cortese’s work, causing further delays and increasing costs. Suffolk County police have opened an investigation into the case.