Chesterfield woman victim of scam

By: Michelle Carolla | SCNOW
Published: November 08, 2008

There are a lot of scams going around, but one in particular has the town of Chesterfield up in arms. An elderly woman there lost her home in a fire three years ago. She still doesn’t have her home because police say a man posing as contractor took her for all her money.
84-year old Ella Jane Sellers moved into her home in Chesterfield, South Carolina in 1950. She wanted to re-build her home after the fire and her family helped her find a contractor named Rommie Williams, owner of Williams Construction in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
"He said he was a reverend and I felt real good about him because he's a reverend and he's supposed to do what he says," said Ella Jane Sellers. However, Chesterfield Police Chief Randall Lear said that's the last thing he did. Chief Lear said there wasn’t anything in the house correct to code.
Ms. Sellers signed a contract with Williams in March 2007 to rebuild her home in three months for a total of $65,000. Chief Lear said Williams used someone else's license to obtain a building permit because he's not a licensed contractor.
Today, the house still stands unfinished. "The fact that he came in and was doing little bits of work that he didn't intend to finish knowing that he would not be able to build a 12-hundred square foot house finished for that price that he quote her, all those things goes to show there was scam in the first place," said Lear.
Ms. Sellers said he would ask her for more money and finally she just ran out. "I told him that's all I got,” said Sellers.
Chief Lear said no one messes with his Mayberry. The community is stepping in and building Ms. Sellers a new home. A building supply house is donating materials at cost, the high school tech students are handling the electrical and interior build out and a local contractor will oversee the work. They hope to have Mr. Sellers back in her home by Christmas.
"I thank the Lord all the time. I hope they can do it, yeah, I praise the Lord,” said Ms. Sellers
Chief Lear has warrant out for Williams’ arrest. He's charged with breech of trust. The Chief spoke with Williams a month ago. Williams said he would turn himself in, but he never did.
If you have any information about Williams, contact your local authorities. Lear says he will personally go and pick him up and bring him to face charges.
News 13 attempted to reach Rommie Williams, but he did not return our call. A fund is now set-up for Ms. Sellers at First Citizens Bank. If you'd like to send a donation to the house re-building campaign, the account is in her name.

Chesterfield woman victim of scam

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