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On Oct. 2, Brandon O'Connell, 28, of 5511 Moreland Baptist Road, Unityville was arrested by city police after a report of fraud in connection with a home improvement project that was not conducted.
On April 18, 2022, O'Connell, owner of Next Gen LLC, allegedly entered into an agreement with Corbin Woodling to refinish the basement at his residence, 212 Roderick Road. The cost of the work was estimated to be $65,000, of which 50% would be a down payment, according to an affidavit.
Seventy-five percent of the remaining balance would be due when the work was three quarters of the way done, with the remaining balance due at completion. The estimated time till completion was quoted as three to four months.
O'Connell was scheduled to begin the project on May 2, 2022, however, he did not begin until the end of June, court documents state.
O'Connell assured Woodling that he would be at the property full-time in order to complete the project, however, he only showed up sporadically from July 2022 to Jan. 11, according to court documents. On Feb. 28, O'Connell informed Woodling that he would be downsizing his business, and after finishing a current project in two weeks, would return to install steps and finish the flooring, which was never completed, police allege.
In June 2023 O'Connell allegedly informed Woodling that he would be transitioning careers, and would be at the house full-time in order to finish the project by July. However, Woodling only showed up a few times after 3 p.m., working for only one or two hours at a time.
In total, O'Connell was paid $63,440 for the work despite a number of things not being completed or ordered.
He was charged with making false statements to induce agreement, receiving advance payment for services not performed, theft by deception and deceptive or fraudulent business practices and was released on $50,000 bail.