(Middletown, DE 19709) Joseph Jenkins (56) of Middletown was arrested on Thursday, December 22, 2022, following an investigation into a home improvement fraud. On October 17, 2022, an officer from the New Castle County Division of Police was dispatched to a residence in the Village of Bayberry North community in reference to a fraud report. A 41-year-old male victim reported that he paid Joseph Jenkins to complete renovations to his residence. The victim stated Joseph provided a quote of $18,625.00 with an initial deposit of $8,000.00. The victim paid the $8,000.00 however the work was never started at his residence. The victim continued to reach out to Jenkins several times however, he never showed up to begin the project.

After further investigation, the officer signed an arrest warrant for Joseph Jenkins, and he was processed at police headquarters on December 22, 2022. He was charged with one felony count of home improvement fraud. Jenkins was also processed on a separate felony home improvement fraud warrant stemming from a 2019 investigation. Jenkins was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and bail was set at $12,000.00 secured. Jenkins was later committed to the Howard R Young Correctional Institution.

The Division is concerned that there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. Any individual wishing to provide information pertaining to Joseph Jenkins or who may be a victim of a similar fraud is asked to please contact M/Cpl. Paramjit K Dhanju at paramjit.dhanju@newcastlede.gov or by calling the New Castle County Division of Police non-emergency number at (302)573-2800. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 or visit us on Facebook (IM) at New Castle County Division of Police.

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