Flooring Contractor Pleads Guilty After Stealing More Than $90K From Clients In Hamptons: DA

EAST HAMPTON, NY — A flooring contractor pleaded guilty after stealing more than $90,000 from clients in East Hampton and Southampton to pay his personal debts, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Leones Martins-Rodrigues, 40, of East Islip, pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted grand larceny after stealing money from his customers, the DA said.

The funds were originally paid to Martins-Rodrigues, owner of Smart Flooring, in return for contracting services that were never performed, Tierney said.

According to his admissions during his guilty plea allocution, Martins-Rodrigues received more than $90,000 from three home builders in eastern Suffolk County from May 2022 to February 2024, Tierney said.

The funds were provided for the exclusive tasks of purchasing and installing hardwood flooring for homes in Southampton and East Hampton, the DA said.

Instead, the investigation revealed that Martins-Rodrigues drained the money from his bank account to pay off his personal debts and never purchased any of the flooring for the projects, the DA said.

He was arrested on April 8, Tierney said.

Martins-Rodrigues pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree attempted grand larceny, a Class D felony, before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, the DA said.

Martins-Rodrigues is due back in court on August 12, 2027, for sentencing. He is being represented by Luigi Belcastro, who was not immediately available for comment.

"This defendant presented himself as a reputable contractor and stole money meant for flooring inside Suffolk County homes," said Tierney. "Instead, he used the funds to pay down his own debts. My office will ensure that those who deceive residents face consequences for their criminal actions."