A Texarkana, Arkansas resident, Michael Jeffery, age 45, doing business as Mike’s Construction, Genoa, Arkansas, was recently arrested on five arrest warrants involving a paving scam on two Bienville Parish residents in June, 2021.

Jeffery approached two different victims offering to pave a portion of their driveways with what he described as “leftover hot mix” from prior jobs. In both cases Jeffrey verbally agreed to perform the work for $600 but greatly inflated the price after the jobs were completed.

In the first incident the victim reluctantly paid Jeffery a larger sum of money than the original quote after the victim felt pressured into doing so.

In the second incident Jeffery grossly inflated the price of the job and made the victim feel threatened by Jeffery’s aggressive behavior. The victim told Jeffery to wait outside but he entered the residence without the victim’s permission. Feeling fearful and nervous by Jeffery’s unwanted presence, the victim paid $600, the original agreed upon amount, and he departed the residence.

Jeffery recently completed a sentence in Webster Parish and has an outstanding warrant from Columbia County, Arkansas for theft by deception. He faces two counts of residential contractor fraud, two counts of exploitation of the infirmed/aged and one count of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling with bond set at $375,000.

Sheriff Ballance warns all Bienville Parish residents to beware of “fly-by-night” contractors especially those that go door-to-door offering special deals on paving or any other construction jobs. Always get a written quote/contract before any work is done.

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