Louisiana man extradited back to the Suncoast to face contractor fraud charges
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
PGPD
On November 14, 2022, Tommie L. Jenkins of Houma, Louisiana, signed a written contract with Lisa Ann Forian of Punta Gorda to replace a residential pool enclosure destroyed during Hurricane Ian. At that time, Forian provided Jenkins with a 50% deposit in the form of a check for $13,875.00. Jenkins deposited the check into his account the next day. Ms. Forian and Jenkins agreed on January 17, 2023, as the date Jenkins would begin replacing the pool enclosure. When Jenkins did not start the work as promised, Ms. Forian tried contacting Jenkins by text and eventually certified letters with no results.
On July 12, 2023, the Punta Gorda Police Department Detectives were alerted by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations following a complaint lodged by Ms. Forian with the State of Florida. Detective Larry Schrader took the case and pursued it over the next several months. Despite the lack of response from Jenkins to her final certified letter on August 17, 2023, which demanded the commencement of construction within thirty (30) days, Ms. Forian did not give up. Her persistence led Detective Schrader to file charges of Grand Theft and Contractor Fraud against Jenkins, resulting in a warrant for his arrest.
On June 19, 2024, Jenkins was arrested on a warrant in Pike County, Mississippi. On July 08, 2024, he was extradited to Charlotte County, where he remains incarcerated in the Charlotte County Jail awaiting justice.
