New Orleans man booked on Craigslist contractor scam allegation – The Advocate

It doesnt take long to find a review of Lee Windsors home renovation work online.

This guy is a scam! an anonymous post on Craigslist warns. He will get a down payment and you will not hear from him again.

Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office deputies apparently agreed. Investigators on Friday arrested Windsor during a sting operation, booking the 39-year-old New Orleans man on a count of residential contractor fraud.

The investigation began with a complaint from an alleged victim, according to a probable cause affidavit for Windsors arrest.

Deputies said that the victim, a resident of Waggaman, found Windsor on Craigslist and contracted with him for residential repairs. The victim sent Windsor a down payment of $300, or about half of the total, on March 5.

But then Windsor went silent, according to the arrest report. He failed to return the victims calls, text messages and emails. Deputies said that the victim used the internet to uncover a trail of allegations of similar contractor fraud in Louisiana and Florida.

On March 10, deputies used a different phone number to make a proposal under the guise of a homeowner seeking his services. Windsor agreed to a cost for the project and told the homeowner that he would meet in Metairie to accept a down payment.

Deputies were waiting. They stopped Windsor at the meet-up spot in the 8000 block of West Metairie Road. He could not provide an occupational license or business records so he was taken into custody, according to the arrest report.

Col. John Fortunato, a Sheriffs Office spokesman, said that detectives would like to speak with anyone else who had business dealings with Windsor, who told investigators that he moved to New Orleans from the Jacksonville area just a few months ago.

Fortunato said that Windsor speaks with a strong British accent. Deputies said that he advertised on social media and Craigslist under a variety of business names, including NOLA Tile, NOLA Property Repair, Affordable Custom Deck and Patio, and Affordable Siding Installation.

Windsor was released on Saturday. Fortunato said that anyone with information on his contracting activities should call the Sheriffs Office Detective Bureau at (504) 364-5300.

Follow Matt Sledge on Twitter, @mgsledge.

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New Orleans man booked on Craigslist contractor scam allegation - The Advocate