St. Tammany News

Dennis Brady, who fled to Tennessee after allegedly scamming two Mandeville residents out of $50,000, was arrested by the Mandeville Police Department Monday on the charge of felony theft.

Mandeville Police Capt. Ron Ruple said detectives began their investigation in December after Avis Evans, 626 Lamarque St., reported that Brady, 51, was issued six checks from Sept. 1 to Dec. 4 totaling $47,975 for the construction of a modular home.

Dennis Brady arrives at the Mandeville Police Department headquarters accompanied by Detectives Leonard Pfleider and Sherry Sticker. (Photo courtesy of Mandeville Police Department)

Evans told police Brady would provide updates on the building of the structure each time he requested additional money. By Dec. 4 Brady could no longer be reached, and after Evans contacted his employer, Home One Homes in Metairie, the contractors informed him Brady had not worked there since October.

"The detectives were able to verify, from the business, that no work order had been submitted by Brady," Ruple said.

Ruple said Brady fled to Hermitage, Tenn., after cashing the checks.

Local authorities were contacted by Mandeville PD, and Brady was located and arrested as a fugitive until he was retrieved and extradited back to Louisiana, where he was charged with one count of felony theft in the amount of $47,975, and a second count of felony theft in the amount of $4,280, which Brady received this year from Frederick Place Jr., 212 Atalin St. in Mandeville, as a down payment for home renovations he never completed.

Ruple said Brady's repertoire does not only concern Mandeville.

"It was discovered that Brady is also wanted for similar charges in the New Orleans area, Alabama, Texas and Georgia," he said. "He faces a potential 20 years in prison from just the Mandeville crimes."