The Rosewood neighborhood in Socastee is one of many areas in Horry County still piecing their lives back together from Hurricane Florence.
In the midst of recovery, some residents say a contractor scammed one of their neighbors out of thousands of dollars.
Henry Huff, a Vietnam veteran with Alzheimer’s disease wrote a check to a contractor named James Fitzpatrick, says Huff’s power of attorney and fellow veteran, Al Jensen.
“The part of that I can’t believe is that someone would take advantage of us like they do, at my age and everything else, 81 years old.” said Jensen. “When I grew up we didn’t do this to people.”
Huff’s subcontractor, David Bessent told News13 he is full of regret for recommending James Fitzpatrick as a contractor to Mr. Hensen and Mr. Huff.
“This is why I feel bad about it, I came in and did my work.” said Bessent. “He’s given police the same excuses he’s given us. That he was going to pay. He was going to pay the day before yesterday. I still haven’t been paid.”
According to the Horry County Public Index, James Fitzgerald was arrested and charged with Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent on October 29th out of Surfside Beach.
A neighbor of Huff, Brian Brown, says in order to help Huff make progress on the construction, he stopped his own contracting crew to go work on his house for a few weeks.
“What I did was have them stop my job and go to finish Henry’s house, Henry was sitting back with no doors, no molding, no nothing.” Brown said.
A police was filed by Huff’s power of attorney, Al Jensen on December 17 accusing Fitzpatrick of Breach of Trust. In the report police state they conversed with Fitzpatrick who said he is going to try to pay the money back as quickly as possible.
A warrant has not been issued at this time.
Stay with News13 for updates.
