Justin Lanno, Advanced Tech of CT, Dean Proto, JustinEric Design, Justin Webdesigner Ripoff, Scam, harassment, threats, extortion, blackmail, Criminal Meriden Connecticut

Oh my goodness. Worst experience I have ever had. Posted an ad on Craig's list under computer gigs for an SEO specialist. This man contacted me claiming to be Dean Proto from Advanced Tech of CT. Sent me a list of websites he claimed to have developed including : www.lacrosseunlimited.com

www.rusticoak.com
www.mansellemedia.com
www.planetfitness.com
www.wizkhalifa.com
www.ysl.com

Included a phone number. Emailed back and forth, worked out a payment agreement and contract, paid him, assumed he commenced work. As soon as I payed him he disappeared for an entire day. Contacted him, told him I was contacting the fraud dept at the bank (BofA). He immediately responded and apologized, said he had his kids for the weekend and certainly had his team working on my project. Sounded sincere, so I said ok. Stayed in touch with me, and we are all good. Deadline came and passed, nothing. Said google was taking longer than normal, but he was still on it. He then contacted me early for the next payment despite no results of work showing. Claimed he had to pay a team member his fee and is embarassed. I tell him, it's not my job to cover his personal debts, as a business owner he should be able to do this. He became irate. Demanded I pay him. Because of his rage and incessant texting/emailing, I gave in and paid by check as requested. After sending check, he said he no longer had 'snapshot' and cannot process check. Demanded I text or email him my full debit card number, security code, exp date, and billing zip code. Promised to send receipt immediately. I said absolutely not. Again, became irate. Sent nasty messages demanding I do it immediately. All downhill from here. I refused. Said I will only pay him when I see some finished work. He was now over a week past his original deadline. He began threatening to put unflattering material about me online. On May 10, 2013 Mr. Lanno began texting me at 9:02am and texted NON STOP until 11:52 pm harassing me all day at work  for more money knowing full well I was at work and unable to speak with him. Continued to threaten and attempted blackmail. For the next few days (at this point I had over paid him by $50 as per our agreement), I continued to tell him NO MORE MONEY until he showed me the work he had done, but he refused to send me anything. Finally on May 15, I called my local Police Dept because I began to fear for my safety. His threats have increased and became more aggressive. The officer advised me to take him to civil court because at the moment he was only threating online action, and until he published something and we could read the content, it could be determined if it was criminal. She told me absolutely do not to pay him rather take him to small claims court as at the moment it was a civil matter. She said to call back immediately if any of his threats became physical.

On May 16, Mr Lanno informed me he filed 'Theft of service' charges in NY and CT and I would be arrested that day unless I paid him $150 immediately. He then tried to bargain with me saying he would 'settle' for $75. I told him I would rather speak with the police when they arrested me. I tell Mr Lanno for the third time since last night to please not contact me anymore. Later in the day I decided to I contact his local precinct, the Meriden Police Dept, and got the chance to speak with Officer Bradley who assures me 1) he has no case against me (I have every single contact between Mr Lanno and myself documented) and 2) I need to immediately call my local precinct so that they can contact Officer Bradley who will either call Mr Lanno or find him in his home. Mr Lanno was arrested for thir degree assault in Jan 2013 and is not supposed to be  harassing people. He gives me his direct line and asks me to please call him back if the threats increase in nature. Because my Lanno has honored my request and not contacted me since earlier in the day, I am hoping he is leaving me alone for good, and he can keep my $300. Today (Thurs May 16) I retained the services of a local attorney. Should Mr Lanno try to contact me again, he will not be hearing back from me, but through my attorney and/or his own local police dept. This situation could not have possibly been any worse. Mr Lanno is more than an aggressive scam artist (see many other complaints filed against him). He is quite dangerous and I wold advise not getting tangled up with him. He can keep my money, i simply never want to hear from him EVER again.