After a months-long investigation, criminal charges have been filed by the District Attorney’s Office against a Bird Rock merchant whose business practices have been called into question.
“There are 14 felony counts that I have filed against Peter Schroeder. Five are financial elder abuse, and the balance are either embezzlement or grand theft,” said Paul Greenwood of the DA’s office.
Schroeder and his wife, Dolores, own Schroeder Piano Company & Piano Rentals, Inc. at 5680 La Jolla Blvd. The Bird Rock merchant handles piano consignments. Several former customers of the establishment have stepped forward during the investigation to allege that they were swindled in their dealings with the Schroeders.
One such customer is La Jolla financial consultant Lance Pelky. Several years ago, Pelky alleged, he consigned a $10,000 piano with Schroeder on a 60-40 split and was repeatedly told by Schroeder that it “hadn’t sold yet.” Pelky said he ultimately stopped hearing from Schroeder altogether. He then took his case to TV consumer watchdog Michael Turko and “The Turko Files,” which subsequently profiled Schroeder and Schroeder’s alleged unfair business practices.
After that, Pelky claims Schroeder offered to pay him part of the money he was owed, which Pelky said he rejected, before both parties finally arrived at a mutually agreed-upon partial settlement.
Upon hearing that criminal charges have now been filed against Schroeder, Pelky said, “If these criminal charges are proven to be true, or if defendant Peter Schroeder pleads guilty, it could finally spell the end of possibly decades of (alleged) criminal behavior happening right under our noses, right in front of us at the corner of Bird Rock Avenue and La Jolla Boulevard.”
Pelky said a conviction of Schroeder on the alleged charges filed against him “would be both bitter — and sweet — for all San Diegans.”
“Bitter as it would finally prove that Peter Schroeder may have been a criminal who preys on the weak as well as the strong,” Pelky said. “Sweet because, if convicted, he may finally get the hard prison time due to him for shattering the trust, lives, dreams and hopes of his victims, their families and the wonderful community of Bird Rock.”
An attempt by La Jolla Village News to contact Schroeder’s attorney, Schuyler V. V. Hoffman, was unsuccessful.
In a previous Village News article on Schroeder, his wife Dolores said her company has settled with Pelky and a handful of others who’ve come forward with allegations she maintains are unfounded.??”Pelky’s account was settled five years ago,” she emailed. “He was paid more than he deserved after threats that he would do more bad publicity. There are other mitigating circumstances with (other) accounts payable that are too lengthy to go into.”
Deputy district Attorney Paul Greenwood’s office can be reached at (619) 531-3464.