Roofer accused of charging Tyler woman $64K for unneeded repairs
TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - A Van man is accused of tricking a 71-year-old woman into paying $64,000 for roof repairs she didn’t need.
Levy Aaron Lee, 32, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of financial abuse of an elderly person >=$30K<$150K. According to an arrest affidavit KLTV requested from Smith County, Lee and a co-conspirator charged the victim four times what a new roof would cost in order to repair damage they caused themselves.
The victim told officials the men had approached her about her roof, which they claimed was unstable, the document says. They reportedly told her the roof had a soft spot and a “rotted chimney flute,” and Lee collected six checks and $14,000 cash for the repairs. In actuality, the document says the men caused damage themselves and ”poorly" covered it up with paint, roofing tiles and uneven plywood. It was estimated they used about $1,800 worth of material to patch their damage.
The roof was assessed by a third-party contractor following the repairs. According to the arrest document, the contractor testified that not only were repairs not needed prior to the damage, but four new roofs could be purchased for the $64,000 the victim paid.
An arrest warrant was signed March 31 following the home assessment. Lee is being held in the Smith County Jail on a $350,000 bond. The second suspect has not yet appeared in the jail booking site.
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