Louisiana Woman Arrested For Alleged Residential Contractor Fraud After Homeowners Reportedly Paid $10k and Work Was Not Completed

Union Parish, Louisiana – A woman from Louisiana has been arrested on suspicion of residential contractor fraud after homeowners reportedly paid $10,000 for work that was not completed.

The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office (UPSO) revealed on April 26, 2023, that in April 2023, a complaint was received from a Farmerville, Louisiana homeowner saying that they hired and paid a contractor to replace the flooring in their home, but the work was never completed. The UPSO Criminal Investigation Division (CID) then initiated an investigation.

Detectives reportedly discovered that the victim paid Lisa Janelle Benson, 50, of Marion, Louisiana two installments totaling more than $10,000 in the summer of 2022. Checks written to Benson were deposited, according to the investigation, but the homeowner claims the work was never completed. When the homeowner called Benson, the homeowner was offered several reasons why the job had not been completed, including late delivery of materials. The homeowner made contact with the vendor that  Benson was supposed to buy the materials from and was told that Benson had merely requested an estimate and had not placed an order. Benson then reportedly stopped responding to any form of communication after the homeowner requested a refund after learning this information.

CID Investigators prepared a warrant for Benson, charging her with one count of felony Residential Contractor Fraud. This week, Benson was arrested and booked into the Union Parish Detention Center.

Sheriff Gates wanted to advise homeowners to use extreme caution when hiring contractors to conduct home improvement work. When hiring a contractor, always check their licensing on the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors website. Further information and tips on employing contractors are available at https://lslbc.louisiana.gov/.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.