Man charged with construction scam; investigators search for more victims
Published 5:57 pm Wednesday, February 9, 2022
- Colquitt County Sheriff's Office investigators have charged Justin Chauncey in connection with a scam in which they say he agreed to do home improvement work, got paid up front, then didn't do the work. Investigators are looking for more victims of the scam. If you or someone you know might be one, please contact the sheriff's office at 229-616-7430.
MOULTRIE, Ga. — A Berrien County man is accused of stealing $147,000 by posing as a licensed contractor throughout South Georgia and North Florida.
Jason Chauncey of Berrien County was arrested Feb. 4 by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office for warrants that had been taken out by the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office, according to CCSO investigator Blake Livings.
“Chauncy had been posing as a licensed contractor and was taking money from victims and promising to do the work. Well, he would either never do the work or would continue to give excuses on why he wouldn’t be able to work,” Livings said in an interview Tuesday.
Livings was approached by a victim who had found Chauncy on a website called Angieslist.com.
“The victim told me that she had found him on the site and [he] had promised to do some work on her home. They bought some shower stuff from Home Depot which was picked up. But another order was placed. Eventually, the order that they placed was canceled because Chauncey never came to pick up the stuff,” Livings explained.
He said the victim gave Chauncey $5,000 as a down payment for work that was never even started.
In addition to the Colquitt County woman, Livings was able to identify other victims of Chauncey’s scam which range from around Georgia and Florida:
- Four victims in Berrien County.
- One in Lowndes County.
- One in Hamilton County, Florida.
- One in Nassau County, Florida.
Livings said he is certain there are more.
He said that altogether the victims he has been able to identify have lost at least $147,000.
Recently, the CCSO placed an announcement on its Facebook page that asks any other victims to step forward. That post currently has 742 shares as of Feb. 9.
“There are certainly more people out there who he’s taken advantage of,” Livings said.
Chauncey has been charged with felony conversion for real estate property improvements, but Livings expects other counties will be taking their own warrants out as well.
If you have any further information regarding Chauncey or his victims, please contact the CCSO at 229-616-7430.
