A local contractor has been jailed after taking advantage of a 70-year-old victim, said Sheriff Steve Prator.

Andre Blaze of Minden entered into a contract for home repair with a 70-year old resident of Shreveport. Blaze was paid $3,700 up front and failed to do any work in a 45 day period. Blaze eventually sent another individual who stripped siding from the house. Blaze then requested an additional $500 which was paid by the home owner. After receiving the additional money, Blaze never returned to work on the home. The removal of the siding caused the home to be exposed to the weather which caused further damage.

Caddo Sheriff’s Detective Robert Presley investigated the case and obtained an arrest warrant for Andre back in January. Blaze was arrested on February 23^rd in Minden and brought back to Caddo on the same day where he was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center for Residential Contractor Fraud.

The Caddo- Shreveport Financial Crimes Task Force is currently investigating two other contractor fraud cases involving Andre Blaze. Anyone with information regarding fraud involving this individual is encouraged to contact Detective Robert Presley at 318-681-0772.