Vermilion Parish Sheriff Office arrests contractor for home improvement fraud

The Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a man from Lake Charles and charged him with three counts of home improvement fraud.
According to the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s website, Brent Dugas, 48, was initially arrested on July 17 and charged with two counts of home improvement fraud.
Then, on July 26, he was arrested again on the same charge.
As of Monday, Dugas was still in the parish jail.
Home improvement fraud, also known as a home improvement scam, occurs when a contractor or company, or someone pretending to be one, tricks a homeowner into paying for an unfinished or poorly done renovation or remodel.
The Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office gave no details about the arrest.
On July 19, the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office also arrested Dugas and charged him with contractor fraud.
Authorities learned the victim and owner of SLPS Pole Barns and Buildings signed a contract to construct a building on the victim’s property in Acadia Parish. The contractor was paid half of the cost of the project during the contract signing.
Approximately one year later, the victim filed a criminal complaint against the contractor for violation of residential contractor fraud, according to APSO.