A local builder has been arrested for allegedly cheating sub-contractors and homeowners out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office arrested Lorenz Leblanc of Stonehenge Companies Tuesday afternoon. Now, he may face additional charges in Lafayette Parish.
Terry Broussard says Lorenz Leblanc hired him to do sub-contract paint work about a year ago. He admits the business relationship got off to a rocky start, but he never thought it would come to this.
Terry Broussard/Broussard Painting: W
e've had some situations where checks would bounce, but he made good on it. So, I took his word that it wouldn't happen again and then, I got another NSF for a $4,000 check... It only got worse from there. The Iberia Parish sheriff received a complaint that Leblanc was hired to build her home and had not paid the sub-contractors close to $150,000.
Another victim claims he paid out nearly $70,000 to Leblanc, only to learn he had not paid the sub-parties. Wednesday, we spoke with two Lafayette Parish homeowners who began getting notices that money in excess of $100,000 was owed to local companies.
Terry Broussard/Broussard Painting: When it's all said and done, I don't think I'll get any money back because the homeowners are out of money themselves...
Homeowners say if Leblanc is convicted, they're hoping to recover their losses through criminal restitution and if not there, through a civil lawsuit.
Leblanc has been charged with two counts of contractors misapplication in Iberia Parish. So far, no charges have been filed in Lafayette Parish.
Cheryl Fatzer, Reporting for TV 10 Eyewitness News
