An Ore City resident called Mount Pleasant detectives reporting Sherlock attempted to scam her out of money after his release. She recognized him from the department's previous prior media post.
Residents should never accept unsolicited job offers.
Mount Pleasant Police are investigating numerous complaints against 36 year old Tommy Vincent Sherlock (A.K.A. Justin Miller) for Deceptive Business Practices involving the elderly.
Sherlock was going door to door asking homeowners if they wanted their roof or driveway repaired. Sherlock would get money up front and then not provide the service or he would spray an inferior product on the victim’s roof or driveway.
Sherlock was located in Mount Pleasant after an officer spotted a single cab red Dodge pickup with Tennessee plates matching eyewitness information. During the contact with Sherlock he was found to be in possession of marijuana and placed under arrest. As officers continued their investigation they found Sherlock was in possession of several fake and altered government documents he was using to cash victims checks.
Sherlock has known addresses out of South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and may have been staying in the Texarkana area.
Sherlock was transported and released to Titus County Jail charged with Possession of Marijuana (Misdemeanor B), two counts of Tampering with Governmental Record (Felony 3), and issued a citation for Solicitation without a Permit.
Detectives are continuing their investigation contacting victims of this scam artist. As of late Wednesday four fraud victims had been identified. Additional charges are pending.
Regional Law Enforcement and banks are encouraged to contact the Mount Pleasant Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 903-575-4191 if you have had similar offenses.
Roofing and driveway scams are a decades old con by Irish Travelers also commonly referred to as Gypsies or Scottish Travelers and their clans are historically based in South Carolina.
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