A Suffolk man has been charged with construction fraud after he allegedly took a James City County homeowner’s $50,000 deposit for work on a pool, but failed to perform the work.
Paul McQueen, who works with Chesapeake-based Paradise Aquatics, entered into a $100,000 contract for work on a pool at a Governor’s Land home on April 21, 2017, according to James City County spokeswoman Stephanie Williams.
The homeowner paid McQueen $50,000 the same day, Williams said.
On Dec. 12, the Governor’s Land homeowner contacted James City County Police after repeatedly trying to contact McQueen and receiving no response.
The homeowner told police minimal work had been done on his pool, but some bricks had been removed.
The homeowner also sent a certified letter demanding the return of the deposit in November, but did not receive a response to that either, Williams said.
McQueen turned himself in at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail Jan. 19 and was released on recognizance, according to online court records.
He is scheduled to appear in the Williamsburg-James City County General District Court at 1 p.m. Feb. 22.
