What This Story Is About
- A Blount County man, Thaddeus Foster, 54, faces 24 felony charges after deputies say he took deposits from customers for fences he never built. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office says Foster defrauded 11 people out of more than $40,000, operating as Foothills Fence Company.
Why It Matters
- Nichole Bunch and her mother paid a $4,600 deposit and said no work was ever done, delaying a planned move. Bunch said she had used Foster in the past and he had done good work then. The Better Business Bureau says customers should verify a contractor’s licensing, insurance and time in business before paying, and should not pay more than a third of a project cost as a deposit.
- Foster is due in court Friday morning. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office says it is still investigating and additional charges are possible.
For Context
- Bunch said she contacted investigators after suspecting an issue, and the sheriff’s office told her the case appeared to involve multiple victims rather than a single incident.
Catch up
MARYVILLE, Tenn. — A Maryville contractor faces 24 felony charges after the Blount County Sheriff’s Office said he defrauded at least a dozen people out of more than $40,000.
Thaddeus James Foster, 54, of Butler Mill Road in Maryville, was served Sunday with 24 indictments handed down by the Blount County Grand Jury earlier this month, according to Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong. Foster was charged with 12 felony counts of fraud by home improvement provider and 12 felony counts of theft. He was released the same day on bonds totaling $95,000…