3 INVESTIGATES: Dwelling enhancement contractor arrested for fraud | 3 Investigates
BOSSIER Town, La. – A nearby household contractor that KTBS has highlighted in two investigative stories this 7 days is in jail.
Bossier City police issued an arrest warrant for Richard Paul, 66, and he surrendered to authorities Thursday. He was booked into Bossier Most Safety Facility and is held on a $45,000 bond.
South Bossier Parish house that continues to be unfinished by Richard Paul’s organization.
KTBS 3 Investigates reporter T.W. Starr has been looking into Paul and his business, People’s Selection Flooring and Remodeling, for the previous couple of weeks. The investigation was sparked by issues named in by viewers about Paul’s business procedures.
Householders scattered in the course of the ArkLaTex say Paul and 1 of his contractors, Todd Coleman, were paid out to do dwelling repairs but did not adhere to by means of. A Shreveport woman mentioned she paid out the firm $74,000 in July 2020. And a Coushatta lady said she lost $30,000, while a plumber reported Paul owes him $7,000.
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Bossier Metropolis police spokesman Lt. Bart Cavanaugh said Paul’s arrest stems from perform not completed for a homeowner on Radbrook in south Bossier Town. The home owner experienced storm damage and Paul estimated repairs at $112,000. The home-owner compensated Paul $60,000 up entrance.
Paul is alleged to have brought about far more hurt although performing on the property by falling as a result of the ceiling many instances. The residence then experienced extra destruction when an additional storm rolled via.
Right after many months of trying to get Paul to full the occupation, the property owner submitted a grievance with Bossier City police. The homeowner informed investigators Paul admitted to not acquiring dollars to spend her again or to finish the career, Cavanaugh claimed.
Paul is not even permitted to do that sort of work, Cavanaugh claimed. Paul is only permitted by the condition to do non-household function up to $70,000 in benefit.
KTBS talked with Paul two times on the telephone. He canceled a scheduled on-camera job interview on the early morning it was to take location. Starr created several excursions to Paul’s business office on Youree Generate but no one particular was there.
Todd Coleman
Tommy Wimbley, a single of the home owners who stated he paid Paul’s contractor, Coleman, $11,000 for get the job done that was in no way accomplished, recorded his discussion with Paul on his mobile phone. Paul is recorded as expressing he was going to just take care of the undone function on Wimbley’s house. Wimbley’s response: “You been telling me that for the last 5 months.”
Wimbley blames Coleman as remaining the “mastermind” at the rear of the troubles with the corporation and describes Paul as a “contractor with a license to steal.”
As KTBS documented Thursday, Coleman is a convicted felon, obtaining been 2 times convicted of dwelling enhancement fraud. He’s been ordered to pay back restitution of over $36,000 to two victims.
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Bossier Town police say any other householders in the town who have unfinished perform as a result of contracts with Paul or his corporation need to get hold of them and file reviews.
