By Keith Heffintrayer & Tom Sofield | North Penn Now & LevittownNow.com
Law enforcement across Bucks County are investigating a custom furniture company that allegedly scammed numerous customers via Facebook and other social media sites.
Advertisements
The investigation, which is being led by the Bucks County Detectives and includes members of the Hilltown Township, Newtown Township, and Bedminster Township police departments, is targeting the Perkasie-based A&A Custom Furniture and it’s two owners — Austin and Amanda Smallacombe.
Police said numerous victims have come forward stating they contacted the Smallacombe’s through Facebook and other social media networks to have them build custom furniture, however after paying large deposits, the Smallacombe’s never provided the finished furniture.
According to the press release by Hilltown Township police, investigators believe there are additional victims that have yet to come forward. Police are asking anyone who may have been scammed by the Smallacombe’s to contact one of the following law enforcement officers:
Advertisements
• Newtown Township Police – Detective Moffett, 215-579-1000
• Bedminster Township Police – Officer Pekach, 215-795-2972
• Hilltown Township Police – Detective Bell, 215-453-6000
Charges against the Smallacombe’s have not been filed at this time in connection with this investigation. Austin Smallacombe did not respond to a request for comment, and the Facebook page for A&A Custom Furniture has been taken down.
Advertisements
A review of court records in Montgomery and Bucks counties shows multiple civil lawsuits against Austin Smallacombe, all of which he appears to have lost. Additionally, records show Austin Smallacombe pleaded guilty in June 2021 to felony counts of false statements to induce agreement for home improvement services, receiving advanced payment for services and failing to perform, theft by deception and theft by failing to make required dispersal of funds, along with multiple misdemeanor counts of insurance fraud.
Sentencing notes indicate Smallacombe had to serve six months in county jail and six months of house arrest, followed by 10 years of probation. Smallacombe was also ordered to pay a total $45,537.58 in restitution and avoid further contact with the victims, which appears to have been completed in September 2022.
Austin Smallacombe was also prohibited from operating his own contractor business as part of that sentence, court records show.
Advertisements
In response to a request for comment, Hilltown Township Police said the investigation was launched in the middle of 2022 and has uncovered dozens of victims to date. Police confirmed to North Penn Now that charges have not yet been filed, however they added the charges are forthcoming.
Stacy Ferguson, of Bristol Township, told LevittownNow.com she was happy the investigation has become public and justice might be served.
Advertisements
Ferguson said she gave the Smallacombes a $1,200 deposit via Venmo as part of a $2,000 order for a custom wood dining room table and chairs in mid-2022.
After being led on about the status of the set and without her deposit being returned when asked, she went to police and learned of the investigation, she said.
Advertisements
“I would never take somebody’s money and not provide them with the service,” said Ferguson, who has run her own small business.
“I was relieved and thought ‘finally we can get some type of justice,’” she said of the investigation becoming public.
Advertisements
Ferguson said the custom furniture business came to her attention due to posts in Bucks County community pages on Facebook. She held off at first and had some doubts, but she decided to order a table once her existing set began to deteriorate.
The local woman said she knew Amanda Smallacombe through a friend in Montgomery County and had even sold her cosmetics in the past.
“I had heard good things,” Ferguson said of the Smallacombe’s business.
Advertisements
However, once the deposit was paid and the product wasn’t delivered, Ferguson began to uncover reviews and comments online from unhappy customers, she said.
Ferguson said there were excuses and the Smallacombes failed to return her $1,200 or even a photo of the table she order when they said it was nearly done in October 2022.
Advertisements
Ferguson stated she has heard stories of people who the Smallacombes owe larger sums of money to and hopes a prosecution will lead to her getting her money back.
“I should have followed my gut,” she said of her initial hesitations.
Advertisements
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
