KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT) — A La Grange man is facing criminal charges after attempting to defraud a local business owner in an HVAC installation scam, according to the Kinston Police Department.
On February 20, 2025, authorities received a complaint from a business owner who said they had paid an individual posing as an HVAC contractor, but the work was never started and the money was never returned. The suspect was identified as Steven Allen Barfield, who accepted the funds under false pretenses.
Barfield now faces the following charges:
Felony obtaining property by false pretense
Misdemeanor failure to work after being paid
He was officially charged on April 4, 2025, by the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office while already in custody at the Pitt County Detention Center. As of April 7, no bond had been issued in the case.
The investigation highlights ongoing concerns about fraudulent contractors targeting businesses and residents, and police encourage the public to verify licensure before hiring for services.
