3 INVESTIGATES: House improvement contractor arrested for fraud | 3 Investigates

BOSSIER Metropolis, La. – A regional residence contractor that KTBS has highlighted in two investigative experiences this week is in jail.

Bossier Town law enforcement issued an arrest warrant for Richard Paul, 66, and he surrendered to authorities Thursday. He was booked into Bossier Optimum Protection Facility and is held on a $45,000 bond. 

KTBS 3 Investigates reporter T.W. Starr has been seeking into Paul and his company, People’s Alternative Flooring and Transforming, for the past several months. The investigation was sparked by problems named in by viewers about Paul’s business enterprise methods.

Owners scattered throughout the ArkLaTex say Paul and 1 of his contractors, Todd Coleman, had been paid out to do residence repairs but did not follow by way of. A Shreveport girl mentioned she paid out the business $74,000 in July 2020. And a Coushatta lady reported she missing $30,000, although a plumber claimed Paul owes him $7,000.

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Bossier Town police spokesman Lt. Bart Cavanaugh reported Paul’s arrest stems from do the job not completed for a homeowner on Radbrook in south Bossier Town. The home owner experienced storm damage and Paul believed repairs at $112,000. The property owner paid Paul $60,000 up front.

Paul is alleged to have triggered more problems even though operating on the house by slipping by means of the ceiling various occasions. The household then experienced more harm when an additional storm rolled by means of. 

Immediately after various months of seeking to get Paul to total the position, the house owner filed a grievance with Bossier Metropolis police. The home owner instructed investigators Paul admitted to not owning funds to pay out her again or to complete the career, Cavanaugh reported. 

Paul is not even permitted to do that sort of get the job done, Cavanaugh stated. Paul is only permitted by the state to do non-household function up to $70,000 in benefit. 

KTBS talked with Paul 2 times on the telephone. He canceled a scheduled on-digicam job interview on the early morning it was to choose location. Starr manufactured several trips to Paul’s business office on Youree Push but no one particular was there.

Tommy Wimbley, one of the house owners who reported he paid out Paul’s contractor, Coleman, $11,000 for function that was never ever finished, recorded his conversation with Paul on his mobile mobile phone. Paul is recorded as stating he was going to consider care of the undone perform on Wimbley’s household. Wimbley’s reaction: “You been telling me that for the previous five months.”

Wimbley blames Coleman as currently being the “mastermind” powering the difficulties with the business and describes Paul as a “contractor with a license to steal.”

As KTBS documented Thursday, Coleman is a convicted felon, obtaining been two times convicted of dwelling enhancement fraud. He’s been ordered to spend restitution of more than $36,000 to two victims.

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Bossier Metropolis police say any other home owners in the city who have unfinished get the job done by way of contracts with Paul or his business ought to get in touch with them and file reviews.