Sheriff John Ballance and Sgt. Michael Allen presented two cashier’s checks ($11,000 each) to the victims of residential contractor fraud in the Fryeburg area of Bienville Parish.

The purported contractor, Enrique Campuzano Mendez, age 49, of Ruston, La. was hired on two separate residential construction projects to perform services which over a course of several months were never completed.

Mendez continually provided various excuses as to why the project had not been completed and eventually quit answering texts and phone calls from the victims.

Sgt. Allen obtained arrest warrants for Mendez on two counts of residential contractor fraud and two counts of exploitation of the aged or infirmed. Mendez was arrested by Ruston P.D. on September 9, 2021 and later transported to the BPSO jail for booking.

Sheriff Ballance urges all citizens to be very cautious of any contractors who demand payment before completing their work and to always ask to see a contractor’s license.

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