Trio of arrest warrants issued for construction fraud allegations

A trio of arrest warrants were issued for allegations of construction fraud Thursday following investigations by the State Attorney General’s Office.

The Comanche County District Court issued felony arrest warrants for Scotty W. Davis, 52, and Erin L. Davis, 33, for two counts of embezzlement, records indicate.

The husband and wife are accused of working in concert to take money entrusted for the labor and materials to construct a home and outdoor shop on one man’s property, according to the warrant affidavit. Scotty Davis did $12,102.30 worth of concrete work in October 2021 for the shop floor but left a balance of $177,650.31 worth of work not completed, Attorney General Agent Christopher Culbreath stated. No other work was completed.

The man who hired Scotty Davis exchanged messages with the man and woman offering to come and get the materials himself but was given reasons why he couldn’t, according to the affidavit. Communication became more sporadic after February 2022 and the last communication was June 22, 2022, Culbreath stated. Another contractor was hired to finish the shop but the landowner has been financially unable to complete the house.

A second man entered an agreement with Scotty Davis as 2D Construction, Welding and Fabrication in July 2021 to build a house on his property in Elgin for a cost of $385,225, according to the agent. Five deposits totaling $90,090.45 were deposited into the Davis’ bank account for materials that were never delivered to the job site, the affidavit states. Communications ceased and no work was completed.

During the investigation, Culbreath spoke with the vice president of the couple’s bank in Elgin. She said she spoke with Erin Davis about the situation and said Erin Davis began crying and shaking her head and said she knew how it looked and that her brother, an accountant, had told her the situation looks bad for her and her husband.

Separate case

A felony arrest warrant also was issued for Ronald L. Fowler, 53, for an embezzlement allegation of misusing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money.

The Consumer Protection Unit received a complaint on March 16, 2023, about Fowler doing business as F5Construction and Metal Building, LLC, Culbreath stated.

Fowler provided an estimate in September 2021 for home repair and remodeling for a woman’s home in Geronimo with the repairs to be paid by the Comanche Nation according to ARPA guidelines for a total cost of $34,045, according to the affidavit. The woman paid $19,620 up front and the check was deposited into the business account on Oct. 28, 2021.

No work was ever completed and no materials provided by Fowler, Culbreath stated. The woman terminated her contract with Fowler on Jan. 2, 2022, but since then, no funds have been returned to her or the Comanche Nation.

Cash warrant bonds of $100,000 have been issued upon arrest of each of the suspects.