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Contractor accused of defrauding families out of thousands now on the run after violating probation

A contractor accused of taking thousands of dollars from homeowners then abandoning projects, is on the run from law enforcement.

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By
Keely Arthur
, WRAL 5 on Your Side reporter

A contractor accused of taking thousands of dollars from homeowners then abandoning projects, is on the run from law enforcement.

A 5 On Your Side investigation into Roger Simmons earlier this year, led to a criminal investigation into the troubled contractor.

Simmons spent time in prison in 2019 for taking thousands of dollars from families, then abandoning construction projects before they were done. After his release, he was on supervised probation and paying restitution to past victims.

But homeowners told 5 On Your Side that while on probation, Simmons has been doing the same things that landed him in jail.

"I do believe this is something given the past history, and the number of victims involved, that this is something that needs to be criminally investigated," District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said in May after 5 On Your Side shared details of their investigation.

Freeman now tells 5 On Your Side, new charges against Simmons have been authorized by her office based on recent allegations of uncompleted work. However, law enforcement hasn’t been able to find Simmons to serve him with those charges.

We know there are warrants for Simmons in Apex that include two counts of obtaining property by false pretense, two counts of failure to complete work and one count of felony worthless check.

When Simmons is found, he’ll also face a probation violation for absconding.

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