The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office has charged a man with construction fraud after he allegedly failed to do work on a Tabb resident’s home in August – but it’s not the first time.
Deputies served 33-year-old Joshua Keith Shields Nov. 4 with a warrant for failure to perform construction after an advance, according to York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Shelley Ward.
Investigators believe Shields, a Hampton resident, was contracted to replace a fence and several windows at a residence in the Woods of Tabb neighborhood in August, Ward said.
Shields told the homeowner he would need payment in advance to order supplies, but allegedly never showed up to perform the work.
Ward said the homeowner paid an “undisclosed amount” of money for the job.
The sheriff’s office received a phone call Oct. 20 from the homeowner, reporting he had tried to recoup his money by sending a certified letter to Shields, but did not receive a repayment, Ward said.
Shields had been at the Gloucester County Jail, Ward said, and was served with the warrant when he was transferred to the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.
Online court records show Shields has been charged with construction fraud and other similar charges in multiple localities in eastern Virginia.
There are three charges of failure to perform construction after an advance dating back to March in the York-Poquoson General District Court.
He is scheduled to appear in the district court on the York County charges Dec. 11 and Jan. 22.
Gloucester County General District Court records also show Shields was charged with the same offense in November 2016, after he allegedly failed to perform work in August 2016, according to online court records.
Shields was also convicted of construction fraud in 2010 in Hampton and 2011 in Newport News, records show.
The 33-year-old is also set to go to trial Nov. 21 on charges of identity fraud and false pretense in Hampton, records show.
Shields is scheduled for trial on more construction fraud charges Dec. 4 in the Norfolk Circuit Court.
