The Atlanta Police Department’s Major Fraud Unit has arrested two brothers and charged them with bilking thousands from elderly residents for unnecessary roof repairs in the Morningside, Druid Hills and Emory area.
According to a media release, the unit received a referral from the Georgia Department of Aging Services/Adult Protective Services of a possible roofing scam against an elderly female living alone in the Morningside neighborhood. An investigation and determined that two brothers, Jeff and Keith Ogles, had indeed convinced the victim to give them over $40,000 for insignificant roofing “repairs” on her home. The victim, who is 89 years old and suffers from short term memory loss, was approached repeatedly by the brothers, who demanded more and more money over time. The investigation revealed that, had the “repairs” been done properly, they would have amounted to roughly $1,500 worth of work and materials. However, the “roofers” did more damage than they repaired.
During the course of the investigation, additional victims were uncovered in the Druid Hills and Emory University area. One victim had paid the Ogles $72,000 for similar substandard “repairs.” When that victim, 85 years of age, began to suspect that he was being scammed and refused to make any more payments, the suspects became intimidating and threatened to “go up and rip the work down.”
The Ogle brothers were arrested Friday on financial exploitation of the elderly warrants while at the home of a third potential victim in the Druid Hills area. They currently being held in the DeKalb County Jail on $50,000 cash bonds.
It is believed that there may be additional victims that may have not come forward yet due to embarrassment or fear of retaliation. Anyone who has had similar dealings with the Ogle brothers and feels like they may be a victim should contact the Atlanta Police Department, Major Fraud Unit, (404) 546-4240.