Montgomery County Consumer Complaints Spur State Action Against Home Improvement Contractor

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Complaints from Montgomery County homeowners about unfinished or abandoned home improvement projects helped spark a major state enforcement action which has resulted in a multimillion-dollar judgment against Optimum Construction, Inc., Optimum Interiors, Inc. and its owner, Amr “Omar” Elrahimy.

The County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) received several complaints from residents who paid large deposits for home improvement work that was never completed or never begun. OCP investigators played a key role in reviewing the complaints and identifying a broader pattern of deceptive practices.

“Our job is to look out for people, especially when they’ve been taken advantage of,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “I want to thank our Office of Consumer Protection for stepping up, listening to residents and helping to build the case that led to this enforcement action. People deserve to get what they paid for, and when they don’t, we have a responsibility to step in and do something about it. I also encourage residents to reach out to our Consumer Protection team before signing any contracts. There are resources in place to help you avoid getting caught up in stressful situations that can cost time and money.”

OCP shared its findings with the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, whose Consumer Protection Division brought the case. It confirmed that numerous consumers were misled and financially harmed, leading to one of the largest consumer protection penalties issued in recent years. The office found that, “The level of deceit by Elrahimy is breathtaking in its scope” and “The extent of Elrahimy's use of funds from the corporate bank accounts … to pay for personal expenses and unrelated business expenses is extraordinary.”

“Unfortunately, merchants that obtain government licenses are also capable of deceiving consumers,” said OCP director Eric Friedman. “We all need to carefully gather information about a contractor before signing a contract or making a payment. Our office is available to help consumers conduct research.”

WUSA9 recently covered the case in depth, sharing the stories of affected homeowners and explaining how the legal action unfolded. 

Homeowners who paid Optimum Construction, Optimum Interiors or Amr “Omar” Elrahimy for home improvement work that was never completed, should contact the Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 410-528-8662 or email [email protected].

The Office of Consumer Protection is located at 100 Maryland Ave., Suite 3600, in Rockville. Walk-in hours are 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. For more information or to file a consumer complaint, call 240-777-3636 or visit the OCP website. Stay connected with OCP on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and the Consumer Connection podcast.

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Release ID: 25-279
Media Contact: Brittany Clingerman 240-777-3732
Categories: Consumer