Alleged scammer's son speaks out

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) - A Cheektowaga woman is accused of running a snow plow scam. Terry Lyn Jarvis stood before Town of Tonawanda Judge J. Mark Gruber, Wednesday. This was her first appearance since her arrest on Monday, accused of defrauding customers though her snow plow business.

“I have some snow plowing contracts that I do,” said Terry Jarvis, who said she is self employed.

Several of Jarvis' clients called the Better Business Bureau and Call 4 Action saying she never showed when the snow fell and that Jarvis was scamming them.

Customers say Jarvis took their money in advance, but when the snow started to pile up, she never answered their calls.

Jarvis' only known plow now sits in front of her Cheektowaga home. That's where police arrested her on multiple charges, including a felony charge of scheming to defraud.

Police say when they showed up, she tried to get away from them, but wound up getting stuck in a snow bank in front of her house.

Judge Gruber asked Jarvis, “Do you understand what you're charged with?” She replied, saying “Not really.”

Then Judge Gruber asked, “Do you understand what I just read to you?”

Jarvis responded, “That I was stealing money from people, you mean from the contracts? I do understand what you just read, but I don't understand why.”

Jarvis' son, jay Henessey, was also in court. He told the judge Jarvis’ wife was hit by a car right before the first snow fall and was still in the hospital.

He says that is why the plow work was never done. Henessey said, “That's why her plowing got a little screwed up, she was hit by a car and was in intensive care.”

“That's why we're in this big situation,” said Jarvis. “We kinda need her to help take care of things around the house.”

And because of that, Judge Gruber set Jarvis' bail at $2,000, her son said Tuesday night he planned on bailing her out.

Jarvis is also facing similar charges in Amherst and Kenmore.