A co-owner of Greeneville's Yurezz Home Center is sitting in a Georgia jail after a wave of customer complaints and a sudden pause in the business's operations put the regional dealership under a harsh spotlight. Buyers say homes were delivered and then left with unfinished work, that communication from the company suddenly stopped, and that some are now out thousands of dollars with little clarity on what happens next. The arrest, paired with a civil lawsuit, has turned the once-busy home lot into a cautionary tale for customers and local officials alike.
According to WATE 6 On Your Side, co-owner Richard Altman was arrested in Appling County, Georgia, on July 8 and booked into the county detention center. WATE reports that the Appling County Sheriff's Office placed Altman on an out-of-state hold while investigators review complaints tied to the business.
The legal pressure is already stacking up. WTOC reports that 21st Mortgage Corporation filed a complaint in Appling County against Richard and Heather Altman, accusing them of an inventory-financing dispute and asking a judge either to let the company recover a home or to require payment. WTOC's coverage also details a series of customer complaints from Statesboro, Baxley, and other towns where buyers say Yurezz stopped responding while work on delivered homes remained incomplete.
What customers are telling reporters
Buyers have told reporters that their lines of communication with Yurezz went quiet shortly after homes were delivered, leaving them waiting on repairs they say were promised but never finished. "Their Facebook pages were gone," one customer told WTOC, describing a sudden halt in service that left her chasing fixes and refunds.
Business filings and dealer footprint
State corporate records show that a related company, YESS Home Center Inc., lists Richard Altman as its registered agent and principal, according to the Georgia Secretary of State. The Yurezz dealer network's own Yurezz website lists a Greeneville sales center at 500 E. Andrew Johnson Highway, confirming the brand's footprint in East Tennessee.
Legal implications
The lender's complaint, combined with customer allegations, exposes the owners to potential civil liability and opens the door to more claims from buyers seeking refunds or contract remedies. It is still unclear whether prosecutors will file criminal charges beyond the current arrest hold. Officials have not publicly announced any formal criminal indictments tied to the business at this time.
What buyers can do
Anyone who purchased a home from the dealership is being urged to hang on to contracts, receipts, emails, and photos of unfinished work, and to contact their lender and consumer-protection authorities. The Better Business Bureau and local news outlets are already fielding complaints, and WATE reports that Tennessee's attorney general's office has received consumer inquiries related to the dealer.
Authorities in both states say the investigation is ongoing, and consumers should expect more information as court filings and official statements surface. This story will be updated as additional public records or filings become available.
