Pa. furniture scam linked to extremists?
Updated at 12:33 AM today


DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. - February 1, 2010 (WPVI) -- Officials are calling it a furniture scam, and things do not look good for dozens of customers.

People came by the dozens, wondering why the furniture they'd paid dearly for had never been delivered.

But far more than bad business, Downington Police say these were all victims of international crime; fraud perpetrated through furniture.

Last week, when their suspicions were raised by angry customers, police paid an unexpected visit to the At-Home Furniture store, encountering Ashraf Al-Frookh, a 36-year-old co-owner whose answers didn't add up.

Further investigation by police revealed that Al-Frookh was in the country illegally and he was immediately detained.

Then the other Owner, 37-year-old Ziad Saleh who is also in the U.S. illegally, fled with his family. Authorities think he went to Jordan.

Now Downingtown police, working with immigration authorities and the FBI are wondering where the money went. They're even asking if it might have funded extremist activity abroad.

According to investigators, Al-Frookh and Saleh took over the shop in the last few months and offered deep discounts to customers who paid cash. However they rarely, if ever, delivered a single piece of furniture. Their victims numbered in the dozens, maybe more, and police say they were taken to the tune of at least $100,000.

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