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A Montgomery County home improvement contractor has been ordered to pay millions in penalties and restitution after taking payments from Maryland residents for work that was never completed. The Maryland Attorney General’s Office announced a final enforcement order against Optimum Construction, Inc., Optimum Interiors, Inc., and owner Amr “Omar” Elrahimy, holding them liable for violating the state’s Consumer Protection Act.
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According to the Consumer Protection Division, the companies and Elrahimy collected deposits from homeowners in various parts of Maryland but routinely failed to deliver on their promises. In multiple cases, an unlicensed salesperson was dispatched to customers’ homes, offering contracts that did not comply with state law. The company committed to completing home improvement work by specific deadlines but often left projects unfinished or never started at all.
Consumers who were affected never received the services they paid for, and refunds were not issued. Instead, investigators found that Elrahimy used the payments for personal expenses and to support unrelated businesses. The division found evidence of deliberate misrepresentation of project status and ongoing misuse of client funds. The final order includes restitution of more than $2 million to victims and $2.45 million in penalties.
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The order also bars the businesses and Elrahimy from operating as home improvement contractors or sales representatives in Maryland unless they post a $1 million surety bond with the state. Testimony from 20 consumers helped the Office of Administrative Hearings reach its findings. Affected residents who need assistance or have questions can contact the Consumer Protection Division’s hotline at (410) 528-8662.
Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from a press release issued by the Maryland Office of the Attorney General
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