Home improvement fraud charged

A 27-year-old Erath man accused of stealing more than $6,400 through home improvement fraud in Morgan City and who has been arrested in four other parishes on the same charges was arraigned in the 16th Judicial District Court April 21 according to 16th Judicial District Court records.
Shane Leblanc, 27, of Erath, was arrested Feb. 10 by Morgan City police on warrants for home improvement fraud and theft more than $500.
The charges stem from an incident where Leblanc agreed to perform renovations at a house in Morgan City in February 2013, and March 2013. Leblanc told the victim that he worked for a company called Cajun Construction and that his name was Shane Romero, according to the affidavit.
Leblanc received $6,410.50 from the homeowner, according to the affidavit. The homeowner visited the residence between Feb. 18, 2013, and March 1, 2013, and noted that the only work performed consisted of the removal of a baseboard in the kitchen, the homeowner stated in the affidavit. Leblanc said he could not perform the work because he was sick, the homeowner stated in the affidavit. However, he was not able to provide proof of illness, according to the affidavit.
The homeowner received several invoices for work never performed, according to the affidavit.
A detective verified that no one with the name Shane Leblanc, Shane Romero or Cajun Construction of Erath, was registered with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, according to the affidavit.
Leblanc has been charged with home improvement fraud in Vermilion, Lafayette, Terrebonne and Ascension parishes dating back to 2012, according to his arrest record.
Leblanc’s next court appearance in the 16th Judicial District Court is May 29.