Opinion
July 12, 1985
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Erie County, Ostrowski, J.
Present — Dillon, P.J., Hancock, Jr., Doerr, Denman and O'Donnell, JJ.
Judgment, insofar as it imposes sentence, unanimously reversed, on the law, and otherwise judgment affirmed and defendant remanded to Supreme Court, Erie County, for resentencing, in accordance with the following memorandum: Defendants appeal from convictions of multiple counts of first degree scheme to defraud (Penal Law § 190.65) and second degree grand larceny (Penal Law § 155.35) arising from their involvement in fraudulent home improvement and investment schemes. Defendants contend that the indictments charging them as accomplices in the crimes varied from the prosecution's proof offered at trial and the court's charge to the jury. We disagree.
One of the purposes of an indictment is to prevent the court or prosecutor from usurping the Grand Jury's power by ensuring "that the crime for which the defendant is brought to trial is in fact [the] one for which he was indicted by the Grand Jury" ( People v Iannone, 45 N.Y.2d 589, 594, quoted in People v. Spann, 56 N.Y.2d 469, 472). Here, Attila Puskas, the principal witness for the prosecution, who was not named in the indictments, testified to the role each individual played in the home improvement scam. According to Puskas, Stryzyz obtained the city contracting license, doing business as Rich Home Improvements, and agreed to permit Puskas to indorse checks received from customers. In return, Stryzyz was to receive 10% of the profits on each job. After customers were solicited via the telephone, Puskas acted as a "lead man". While making minor repairs, he would create or fabricate more serious problems in the customer's home. He would then subcontract the job to Ralston. Once on the job, Ralston would create more problems, thus generating more work. Puskas and Ralston split the proceeds from these jobs and from investment schemes perpetrated by Puskas and other Rich Home Improvement employees.
In light of this testimony, we find that the prosecution presented sufficient proof of defendants' involvement in the scheme and did not, as defendants claim, merely attempt to hold them responsible for Puskas' criminal conduct. It was not necessary for the indictment to specify whether defendants were abettors or principals ( cf. People v. Bliven, 112 N.Y. 79; People v. Liccione, 63 A.D.2d 305, 312-313, affd 50 N.Y.2d 850). Neither do we find that the court's instructions to the jury varied from the charges in the indictment ( see, People v. Charles, 61 N.Y.2d 321).
Since defendants' criminal conduct occurred in 1977-1978, when Penal Law § 65.10 (2) (f) was in effect, the sentences which imposed terms of incarceration and required defendants to make restitution are, however, invalid ( see, People v. Winston, 92 A.D.2d 740). The law as it then existed stated that the court could require defendants to "[m]ake restitution of the fruits of his offense or make reparation, in an amount he [could] afford to pay, for the loss or damage caused thereby" (Penal Law § 65.10 [f]). We have examined defendants' remaining contentions and find them to be meritless.