A Fayetteville man faces charges for not fulfilling his contractual promises after accepting payment for construction services he never provided. Pernell Junior Shoulars, 46, was charged with obtaining property by pretense and failing to perform work after receiving payment, following an investigation by the N.C. Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division.
A report by the North Carolina Department of Insurance outlines that Shoulars, a contractor, allegedly accepted $6,000 to complete concrete work, that he subsequently did not even begin. The incident was said to have happened on January 19, 2024. Shoulars was arrested last Wednesday and later released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey highlighted the case as an example of contractor malfeasance, urging property owners to practice 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 stated. This advice comes in the wake of the increased efforts by law enforcement to crack down on such fraudulent activities across North Carolina.
Shoulars is due in Moore County District Court on December 4, Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Department of Insurance has made an open call for the public to report any suspicions of insurance fraud or similar white-collar crimes. Concerned citizens may anonymously report fraud by calling the N.C. Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division, either directly, or toll-free from anywhere in the state. The arrest comes from a collective effort to strengthen trust and integrity in the contracting industry, which holds significant consequences for homeowners investing large sums into property improvement.
