JACKSON- State Auditor Stacey Pickering announced the arrests of three individuals charged in fraud related to home repair as a result of damage from Hurricane Katrina.

James Hodge, 45, of Wiggins was arrested on Monday, June 9 and released on $20,000 bond following charges of felony home repair fraud. Hodge, operating as J & J Construction, entered into a contract and received $10,000 in payments for work on a residence in Bay St. Louis that was never finished. State Auditor’s Office appreciates the assistance of the Attorney General’s Office, Stone County Sheriff’s Office and Hancock County Sheriff’s Office in this case.

Peter Howard, 47, and partner Robert Smith, 52, both of Mobile, Ala., were arrested today on the charge of felony false pretense. Howard and Smith, operating as Pelican Bay Homes, contracted with the victim to provide and construct a modular home in Pascagoula. A down payment was made of $140,000 for the home that was never constructed. Both Howard and Smith await bond at the Jackson County Adult Detention Center. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson County District Attorney Tony Lawrence assisted in this case leading to the arrests of Howard and Smith.

“These arrests make a total of five since the beginning of 2008 involving contractors defrauding residents devastated by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, “said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “The investigators with the Katrina Fraud Prevention and Detection Unit worked very diligently to bring these arrests. The Office of the State Auditor is committed to investigating Katrina fraud cases and bringing those convicted of committing crimes to justice.”

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