TAYLOR COUNTY, Fla. — A man accused of stealing from people across multiple states, including in Smith County, in an asphalt driveway scam that began in 2020 was recently arrested in Florida.
According to the Smith County Sheriff's Office, Timothy Mark Adams, 44, was taken into custody on several warrants this week and he is set to be brought to Smith County soon. The sheriff's office said in March 2020, an elderly couple in Smith County saw an ad on Facebook about asphalt paving that was allegedly from Adams. They said they hired him for the project and paid him $3,000 in advance, but he never did the work.
Investigators learned of this report and also other similar cases involving Adams. Through investigations, the SCSO discovered Adams was scamming people in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Texas, according to the sheriff's office.
In 2020, investigators received theft warrants on Adams and a grand jury indictment from the Smith County District Attorney's Office. Officials said he left town shortly after and they say he sent threatening messages to one of the victims.
Smith County Fraud Investigator John Partlow received information on Adams' location and found out that Adams was possibly staying in an RV park in Taylor County, Florida. Parlow worked with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office investigators who found Adams at an RV park in Perry, Florida. He was then arrested for the warrants.
“Never hire anyone for home repair services until you thoroughly check them out," Partlow said. “Never pay anyone up front for services until the work is completed unless they require money for materials during the project.”
SCSO said asphalt driveway scammers are one of the most popular types of fraud activity and it costs victims thousands of dollars each year.