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Pocono News Section
I-Team: Wyoming Homes Doesn't Deliver
I-Team: Wyoming Homes Doesn't Deliver - Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 5:18PM EST
Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 @ 05:18pm EST
PRINGLE, LUZERNE COUNTY --Now to the latest in an ongoing I-Team investigation. Two families paid thousands of dollars for homes that were never delivered. And you won't believe how one family is living. I-Team reporter Jeff Chirico is here with the latest on the investigation into Wyoming Homes.
The president of Wyoming Homes --Dave Valenti is already awaiting trial on felony charges he stole nearly 60 thousand dollars from a customer in Wayne County. But now the I-Team has learned two other families in Lycoming and Luzerne Counties fear they too may never see the home they paid thousands for.
You see this everyday? And I cry." It's been a painful eight months for Florence Olsen. The Pringle woman lost her mom in June. She now worries she may also lose the money she gave her for a new home. Florence Olsen says I've given him 136 thousand dollars." She's talking about Dave Valenti --president of Wyoming Homes manufactured home dealership. She says her house --which sits on Wyoming Homes' lot in Plains Township was originally supposed to be delivered in August. Olsen says :“now January. I'm getting story after story. I just can't deal with this anymore.
Tom Matter says ”you get fed up with it." Matter and his wife Sally of Jersey Shore have been fighting with Dave Valenti since the year 2000. Sally Matter says “it was a new beginning. It was the year we were married." But while waiting for their home to be delivered from the lot --the Matters say it was ruined by rain. "At that point we didn't want the house because of damage."
They say Dave refused to refund their thirteen thousand dollars or replace the home. "After a couple years of legal wrangling the matters decided they had enough. They put a roof on their foundation and have been calling it home since 2002." It's the only home their three children have known. And they say Valenti has been dragging out the legal process.
Meanwhile, Florence asked Valenti about news reports that he was charged with stealing from another customer. Olsen says “his reaction to that was. The news team was out to get him. What do you think? What do I think? I think you're telling the truth. I think you people are doing a good job because he shouldn't do this to people."
Florence has learned Dave doesn't even own the home she paid for. So in short, the home isn't hers until he pays the bank more than 50 grand. Not only that, masons tell me the snow and ice will likely ruin the foundation. Valenti has not returned my calls seeking his side of the stories.
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