A Columbus man is accused of using bad workmanship, but then
it becomes a crime.
A federal grand jury returned an 11-count
indictment, charging Terrance J. King, 46, of Columbus, in a scheme to defraud
homeowners and businesses, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA),
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS).
The Emmanuel Tabernacle Baptist Church is named in the indictment
against King.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said King used used shingles to repair roofs, but passed them off as new, even
offering warranties.
"We disagree with that. He
was a legitimate business man," said King's attorney, Byron Potts.
Potts is questioning the motives
behind the indictment.
"Most of the people that were complaining about
him wanted him to do stuff on the side and extra stuff or didn't pay him so
they have an axe to grind," Potts said.
The indictment claims that King used second-hand shingles, bought at a discount, and which did not carry warranties to
repair the roofs. The indictment also claims that King completed the work in an unworkman-like manner
and failed to complete additional repairs.
"They didn't say he didn't
perform the work. They're saying it wasn't done in a workman-like manner. That's what their terminology is and we would disagree, that like beauty it's in
the eye of the beholder," Potts said.
The roof work isn't the only issue.
The indictment claims that King took money from
the CMHA to subsidize rent when he was
living in a home in Columbus, and used the money from CMHA to buy cars and trucks.
"It was just a difference of
opinion. Those are civil cases, it sounds like, more than criminal," said
Potts.
King is also charged with filing false tax
returns.
If found guilty, he could spend decades in
prison and the government could take his house.
