Alexandria man faces new home improvement fraud charges

An Alexandria man who was arrested last month on a home improvement fraud charge is facing new charges after more victims of alleged fraud came forward, authorities said.

The suspect is Billy Wayne Redfern Jr., 54, of the 4800 block of Whitehall Street, according to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Redfern was arrested Wednesday at his residence on three counts of felony home improvement fraud, one count of misdemeanor home improvement fraud, three counts of felony misapplication of payments and one count of misdemeanor misapplication of payments, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

Wednesday’s arrest was made by sheriff’s detectives with assistance from deputies assigned to the Warrants Section.

On Oct. 1, Redfern was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center on one count of home improvement fraud, one count criminal damage and one count of misapplication of contractor payments. He was later freed on bond.

Following media reports of Redfern’s Oct. 1 arrest, sheriff’s detectives “received an influx of complaints about Redfern Jr. failing to complete jobs that he was paid to do,” a sheriff’s news release said.

Officials said Redfern advertised contracting services and would negotiate a price for contracting work with residents who contacted him. Redfern would provide residents with handwritten contracts, in some instances with a warranty, for the desired jobs, the news release said.

The residents would pay a portion or in some cases the full amount to Redfern to purchase materials to begin the work, the release said.

Redfern would begin the projects “but never completed the jobs or the quality of the jobs would be unsatisfactory. The victims would attempt to contact Redfern Jr. on numerous occasions to get him to return to the residence and complete their job. Redfern would assure them that he would return on a specific date, but never return and not return their phone calls,” according to the release.

“We truly appreciate the assistance of our local media in reaching other potential victims,” Sheriff William Earl Hilton said Wednesday. “Some of these victims are older in age, and getting the word out helped us locate victims we would not have been able to otherwise.”