There is no public record of a lawsuit involving Collegiate Sealers and Paving, the Chantilly, Virginia driveway company that some searchers may associate with legal trouble. The story behind that search is a criminal one, not a civil one: in September 2023, NBC Washington reported that a scammer impersonated the company to defraud homeowners in Fairfax County, and both the customers and the company were victims. Fairfax County police opened an investigation. No charges have been publicly reported.
What Actually Happened in Fairfax County
An unidentified man went door to door in Fairfax County soliciting driveway sealing work while claiming to represent Collegiate Sealers and Paving. He didn’t do the work himself. Instead, he hired the real company to seal the driveways, telling owner Richard Cornicello that the homes were his own. Cornicello’s crew sealed four driveways under that false story.
The scheme fell apart when one homeowner tried to pay the crew directly and offered nearly double what the company had actually charged. That gap told the crew someone was collecting inflated payments from customers before the legitimate business ever sent a bill.1NBC Washington. Driveway Paving Scammer Hired Real Paver, Kept Homeowners’ Money
Where the Case Stands
Fairfax County police obtained surveillance video of the suspect but had not identified or charged anyone as of NBC Washington’s September 2023 report. Sgt. Jacob Pierce of the Fairfax County Police Department said the department was “still seeking to identify the person who’s perpetrated these crimes.”1NBC Washington. Driveway Paving Scammer Hired Real Paver, Kept Homeowners’ Money
Was Collegiate Sealers Sued?
No. Nothing in the reporting or public record ties Collegiate Sealers and Paving to civil litigation, regulatory action, or a consumer complaint tied to this incident. The company was not a plaintiff or a defendant. Owner Richard Cornicello and the affected homeowners were on the same side of the fraud, and the matter has been handled as a criminal investigation by Fairfax County police. The company continues to operate out of Chantilly, Virginia.2Collegiate Sealers and Paving. Collegiate Sealers and Paving – Home
Protecting Yourself From a Similar Scam
Sgt. Pierce advised homeowners approached by any door-to-door contractor to check the solicitor’s license, decline to agree to work on the spot, and research the company online before hiring.1NBC Washington. Driveway Paving Scammer Hired Real Paver, Kept Homeowners’ Money If a stranger quotes a price at the door and a real crew shows up the next day, ask the crew directly what their company charged before handing over payment. That single question is what surfaced the Fairfax scam.