A church pastor and construction company owner in Shreveport, Louisiana has been arrested in connection with an alleged home improvement fraud case involving an unfinished construction project.
Timothy R. Thomas, 56, of Greenwood, Louisiana, was arrested Sunday and booked remotely into the Caddo Correctional Center, according to the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said Thomas is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital for an undisclosed medical condition and will be transferred to the jail once he recovers. His bond has been set at $75,000.
Thomas is listed as the senior pastor at Living Word Christian Fellowship on Hollywood Avenue and also operates Thomas Construction Company.
Investigators say the arrest stems from both civil and criminal allegations related to a construction project that was never completed. Authorities also discovered that Thomas’ residential contractor’s license had expired in 2020.
The case follows a lawsuit filed in January by Arlenzia Cummings and Kwajalein Butler Cummings, a couple from Greenwood. The pair claim they signed a contract with Thomas and his company to build and sell them a home for $475,000.
According to court filings, the agreement required the couple to make two initial payments of $100,000 each, followed by the remaining $275,000 upon completion of the home. The project was expected to be finished within 60 days.
The couple alleges they paid a total of $350,000 by February 10, 2025, but the home remains unfinished and uninhabitable. They claim Thomas failed to provide a reasonable explanation for the delays or take corrective action.
A written demand outlining alleged breaches of contract was sent to Thomas on November 17, but the couple said they never received a response. The lawsuit seeks repayment of the funds along with additional out-of-pocket costs and attorney’s fees.
Thomas filed a response to the lawsuit, arguing that the contract was actually with Alenza Cummings Sr., not the plaintiffs named in the case. He also claimed there was no enforceable provision requiring completion under the terms described by the couple.
In his response, Thomas also referenced disputes during the construction process and claimed changes were made to the project, including cabinet selections.
Thomas has also indicated on his Facebook page that he attended Miles School of Law.
The investigation into the alleged fraud remains ongoing.
