Fall River Man Sentenced for Grease Hood Cleaning Fraud

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A Fall River man has been convicted of performing uncertified commercial hood cleaning services at restaurants in Fall River, New Bedford and Westport.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, Antonio Borges, 62, was sentenced recently to the Bristol County House of Correction in Dartmouth in connection to a series of complaints in both Fall River and New Bedford District Courts.

Borges was sentenced to one year in the Bristol County House of Corrections, with 90 days to serve and the balance suspended for two full years.

Borges is the former owner of Borges Cleaning Pro of Fall River.

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According to the complaints, Borges performed uncertified inspections in various Bristol County restaurants between April 2022 and October 2023, forging the inspection stickers of legitimate, certified companies because his own certificate to operate had been suspended for four years in February 2022 by the State Fire Marshal and then permanently revoked in September 2022.

“Borges’ crimes have a wide-ranging, significant impact,” the D.A.’s Office said. “They jeopardize the livelihood of owners of area restaurants who operated under the mistaken belief that their commercial hoods had been inspected by a certified cleaner, exposing the owners to a potential loss of business if closed for remediation as well as to the owners’ general reputation.”

“Borges further jeopardized the lives and safety of the operators, their staff, patrons, and fire fighters who may respond to dangerous grease fires caused by the lack of proper cleaning,” the D.A.’s Office said. “Lastly, the crimes have had a significant adverse impact upon the owners of the legitimate businesses whom Borges impersonated by damaging their reputation in the community as well as the financial cost of needing to pursue charges in an effort to rebuild their reputation and avoid the suspension or revocation of their license.”

The investigation revealed that Borges had utilized a fraudulent inspection sticker at at least seven Fall River establishments. He also posed as a representative of a licensed grease hood cleaning company and performed fraudulent services at two places in Westport and one in New Bedford.

The defendant also posed as a representative from a licensed grease hood clean company and performed fraudulent services at two Westport establishments and one in New Bedford.

"The defendant deceived unsuspecting restaurant owners by holding himself out to be a certified grease hood cleaner when his license had been suspended,” District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said. “Not only was this fraud, but he created a significant fire hazard that could’ve resulted in death or serious injury to employees, customers and firefighters. I’m pleased he was held accountable for the scam he was perpetrating on businesses.”