DA Press Releases

Attorney Leon A. Cannizzaro, Jr.
District Attorney of New Orleans ~ State of Louisiana

1340 Poydras St. Suite 700
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70112
(504) 522-2414

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2009

DA Investigators Arrest Man Accused of Contractor Fraud

(New Orleans, LA) - Aaron R. Mercadel, 53, is in Orleans Parish Prison awaiting a rule-to-show cause hearing on five counts of misapplication of contractor pay following an investigation and arrest by district attorney investigators, announced Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon A. Cannizzaro, Jr. To date, five victims have filed complaints with the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office claiming that they entered into construction agreements with Mercadel between June 2006 and the present. The victim's reported a collective lost of approximately $100,000 and all claim that Mercadel never started the projects. Mercadel has prior convictions for misapplication of contractor pay, simple burglary and issuing worthless checks. At the time of his arrest, Mercadel was serving five years active probation for the simple burglary and worthless charges. Cannizzaro said prosecutors will file a motion to have Mercadel's probation revoked in favor of imprisonment. The rule to show cause hearing is set for October 25, 2009 at 3:00 pm. in Magistrate Court. Mercadel's initial bond was set at $250,000.

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