Shreveport man charged with residential contractor fraud

KTBS, March 11, 2025

SHREVEPORT, La. -- A Shreveport man accused of taking money for household repairs but not doing the work has been arrested. 

Shreveport police charged Melvin Hill with residential contractor fraud. He was already in Caddo Correctional Center on unrelated charges. 

Detectives were contacted Tuesday by a person who said she signed a contract with Hill, the owner of High-End Painting, on July 2 for repairs to the interior and exterior of her house. He quoted a price of $49,000.

The woman paid $25,000 up front on that day and gave him an additional $10,000 on Oct. 17. After getting the second payment, Hill allegedly delayed completing the job.

Detectives contacted the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and confirmed that Hill did not possess a valid residential contractor’s license or home improvement registration. 

The Shreveport Police Department urges anyone who may have been a victim of similar fraudulent activity to contact investigators.

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