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'Christian' contractor charged with fraud

Written by Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, 23 April 2008

Billy Ray Carr, Jr., Photo by 6News

GREENWOOD, Ind. -- A man who repeatedly billed himself as a "Christian" contractor, according to his alleged victims, was charged Wednesday, April 23 with five counts of home improvement fraud.

Authorities in Johnson County said Billy Ray Carr Jr., 35, recently approached several older homeowners and offered to trim their trees for a fee.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Carr required up-front payment before cutting some branches and then scammed them with false claims.

Officials said Carr falsely told homeowners that the trees were dead and could fall on the home at any time, prosecutors said, before offering to remove the trees for a higher fee.

When he was paid to remove the trees, Carr stopped working and left, authorities said.

Police said Carr hit homes in White River Township and that all of the alleged victims were age 65 or older.

"I hope this incident serves as a warning to our citizens to be aware and protect themselves from scam artists," said Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner in a news release. "People should view unsolicited contractors with skepticism and never pay the full contract price up front."

Carr turned himself in at the Johnson County Jail and was released on a $1,500 cash bond, authorities said.

Carr was featured in two Call 6 For Help stories within the past year. In March 2008, several people accused him of accepting payment then not finishing work under the business name Creative Trees and Landscaping.

That business offered tree-trimming services in Greenwood and Brownsburg.

In November 2007, Call 6 reported that at least 47 people in Marion and Hamilton counties accused Carr of the same tactics. They said he offering tree-trimming, landscaping or painting services under the following business names: VIP Painting, A Coat Above, Choppers Tree Service, Season's Scape and Trimmers Tree Service.

Last year, Carr repaid some of his accusers and said he planned to complete work for others. He was not arrested in connection with those accusations.