Accused Gwinnett Roofing Scammer Has Been Arrested

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A Gwinnett County man who has already been in jail on charges related to a roofing-business scam is back behind bars after being arrested Saturday.

Richard "Scott" King was arrested July 5, 2016 for theft by deception, exploitation of a disabled adult or elderly person and deposit account fraud. On Friday, police announced he now faces an additional five warrants for theft by deception and one for exploitation of a disabled adult or elderly person. Those crimes allegedly happened after he was bonded out of jail.

At about 1 p.m. Saturday, a woman told Gwinnett County Police that Scott was following her around at the Wal-Mart at 3795 Buford Dr., asking her for money. He left the store before police arrived, said police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera.

Officers viewed surveillance footage at the store and were able to get a description of King and his vehicle, Pihera said. A nearby officer went to King's address from when he was last arrested, on Elm Street Terrace in Buford. He spotted King driving the vehicle spotted at Wal-Mart nearby, stopped the car and arrested King without incident.

King was taken to Gwinnett County Jail and booked at 3:09 p.m.

Pihera said the lead investigator assigned to King's case found that, in 2016, he was responsible for multiple crimes in which he tricked homeowners into giving him down payments for roof repairs he promised to perform. After getting the money, he would refuse further contact and never give the down payments back, police said.

Some homeowners who dealt with King even started putting up homemade road signs warning neighbors that he was a "fraud" and a "thief," police noted. After his initial arrest, he was released on bond on July 27, 2016.

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More than a year later, on July 31, the investigator was contacted by a Gwinnett County assistant district attorney who said several new victims had come forward saying they'd given King money for bogus roof repairs. These new crimes allegedly took place in 2017, after he was released on bond.

Investigators confirmed with the victims that King was the suspect in their cases and that he never did any roof repairs for them in exchange for their money, Pihera said. Police said Friday they believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward.

Anyone who thinks they were scammed by King is encouraged to contact Gwinnett County Police as soon as possible, Pihera said. She also urged residents to get recommendations from their family, friends and neighbors for repair work that needs to be done on their homes.

Checking with the Better Business Bureau for more information on potential contractors may also be helpful, police said.

Photos courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department