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Home Improvement Scammer Arrested By Fort Worth Police

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Police have arrested a New Orleans man accused of defrauding people out of tens of thousands of dollars, for home improvement projects he never did.

Fort Worth Police say a man who was also wanted in Alabama and Mississippi is now in custody for defrauding would-be home improvement customers out of their money.

Officials say 51-year-old Ernest Thibodeaux was calling himself "Kris Malachi" when he was scamming people for their hard-earned cash.

Fort Worth Police Officer Jimmy Pollozani says in one instance, Thibodeaux made a customer pay $28,000 up front, but never did any remodeling work.

Reports say Thibodeaux may have identified himself as a New Orleans Police Officer, even though he was never employed by NOPD.

Fort Worth Police believe there could be additional victims in North Texas and want to hear from them.

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