Lake Charles, LA –
Between December 2021 and March 2022, the Contractor Fraud Response Team received two complaints in reference to contractor Keith Diprima, 45, of Matthews, NC with construction company DBA First Restoration of America.
During the investigation, detectives learned one of the victim’s was sub-contracted by Diprima. After completing the work, the victim never received payment from Diprima. The second victim hired Diprima to do hurricane repairs on his home. Diprima received a large down payment for the work but never completed the work and has not had contact with the victim since September 2021. Further investigation revealed that Diprima did not possess a proper license to complete work.
After further investigation, an arrest warrant was issued on April 14, 2022 signed by Judge Fazzio with a bond set at $4,000. A second arrest warrant was issued on July 14, 2022 and signed by Judge Canaday with a bond set at $100,000. On October 16, Diprima turned himself into the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with residential contractor fraud, failure to possess a required license for home improvement, failure to perform any work for 45 days, and theft from $1,000 but less than $5,000.
CPSO Detective Eddie Curol is the lead investigator on these cases.
An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.