Perry County contractor arrested and charged with fraud

NEW AUGUSTA, Mississippi (WDAM) – A Petal man was arrested and charged with home repair fraud after an investigation found work was left unfinished on multiple occasions.

Perry County Sheriff Jacob Garner said his office was contacted by a Perry County resident who said he paid 49-year-old James Overstreet more than $80,000 in advance for work on his home.

The resident said Overstreet did some “minor” work and then did not return.

Garner said such complaints often resulted in civil rather than criminal action, but that an investigation found that Over Street had conducted similar business on about three other occasions in surrounding counties.

Investigators obtained an arrest warrant and Overstreet was taken into custody earlier this month and charged with fraud.

“If you get paid to do a job, you do it,” Garner said. “We will not tolerate anyone defrauding the citizens of Perry County of their hard-earned money. These cases will be investigated with every means available.”

Overstreet’s bail was set at $85,000.

Garner said Overstreet has since been released from the Perry County Jail on bail.

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