A Fayetteville man faces charges for failing to fulfill his contractual obligations after collecting payment for construction services he never given.
Pernell Junior Shoulars, 46, was charged with obtaining property under false pretenses and neglecting to complete labor after accepting payment during an investigation by the N.C. Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division.
According to a report from the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Shoulars, a contractor, reportedly took $6,000 to do concrete work that he subsequently did not even begin.
The incident was reported to have occurred on January 19, 2024. Shoulars was detained last Wednesday and then released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey cited the case as an example of contractor misconduct, advising property owners to exercise caution.
“Property owners should be aware that there are bad actors working as contractors, and should never agree to work without getting details in writing,” Causey told me.
This advise comes in the wake of intensified efforts by law enforcement to combat such fraudulent activities in North Carolina.
Shoulars is due in Moore County District Court on Wednesday, December 4. Meanwhile, the Department of Insurance has issued an open call to the public to report any suspicions of insurance fraud or other white-collar crimes.
Concerned citizens can report fraud anonymously by phoning the N.C. Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division, either directly or toll-free from anywhere in the state.
The arrest stems from a concerted effort to restore trust and integrity in the contracting business, with serious ramifications for homeowners who invest huge sums in property development.