Indiana State Police have arrested two men in connection with the alleged asphalt scam reported earlier this year in Posey County.
As reported by WMSK News on August 17th, Indiana State Police started their investigation into the asphalt scam after employees of Oaks Construction approached an 87 year old woman at her New Harmony residence and stated that the crew had an extra load of asphalt from a recent job in Mount Vernon and they could pave her driveway for $1,000 to $2,000.
Authorities say the elderly lady agreed and the crews started work, but near the end of the job one of the employees knocked on her door and demanded $6,000 for the job, which she paid with a check and then called her son after the crew left her home. Her son immediately contacted state police.
One of the employees, 34 year old Michael Coope of Clinton, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for Failure to Appear for Home Improvement Fraud after the crew was stopped on I-64 near the state police post. ISP says the rest of the crew was released, but the investigation continued.
State Police note the elderly woman was able to cancel her check before it was cashed.
New information released from Indiana State Police today says after the Posey County Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the case arrest warrants were issued for 39 year old Leslie Oaks of Clinton and 37 year old Odie Curtis Herrin of West Terre Haute, Indiana. State Police say Oaks was arrested around 11:30 Wednesday morning at the KOA Campground in Gibson County and charged with two counts of Attempted Home Improvement Fraud.
According to ISP, Herrin was arrested at a hotel across from the Indiana State Police Post and was charged with Attempted Robbery, Home Improvement Fraud and two counts of Attempted Home Improvement Fraud.
Both men were lodged in the Posey County Jail.