An Atlanta-area roofing contractor in Gwinnett County, Ga., has been in the hot seat with clients alleging misconduct, and after local media reports shone a light on the suspected scofflaw, the principal of Veterans Roofing found himself behind bars the week before Thanksgiving.

Thomas Bouhan, the owner of Veterans Roofing, was arrested in neighboring Forsyth County and placed behind bars, charged with the conversation of payment for property improvement, according to reporting by CBS affiliate WALF. After his arrest, Bouhan was transferred to Troup County Jail.

Last October, two LaGrange, Ga., homeowners filed police reports alleging Bouhan absconded with their insurance claim checks but failed to perform the work from hail damage the homeowners suffered from a March 2023 hailstorm.

One homeowner, identified as Jeffrey Nelson, signed a contract with a Veterans Roofing salesman in early April and signed over an insurance claim check for more than $17,000. Joyce Parmer told WAFN she gave Bouhan claim checks totaling nearly $19,000.

“His excuse all the time was that it was rain, it was too hot ... any kind of excuse, all the time,” Parmer said.

After Parmer and Nelson filed police reports, a Troup County investigator reportedly gave Bouhan 30 days to start the work, provide a refund or face arrest; Troup County gives contractors a 30-day courtesy warning in the event a contractor falls behind schedule. 

WAFN reported that Bouhan completed Parmer’s roof but was placed under arrest after missing the 30-day deadline to give Nelson a refund. Nelson told the news station that following Bouhan’s incarceration, the homeowner received two checks, but one bounced.

Troup County Investigator James Robson said he pursued the case after learning of an Atlanta News First investigation dating back to 2019.

“One of the reasons I was pushing so hard on this is looking at how many people he’s done this to in the past, and he has a history of it,” Robson said.

Veterans Roofing, formerly known as Simpliroofing, has 21 consumer complaints filed with Georgia’s Consumer Protection Division dating as far back as 2019, 10 police reports, and multiple civil suits alleging the contractor cashed customers’ insurance checks but delaying work indefinitely.

Bouhan posted bond last week and sent Nelson a cashier’s check to replace the bounced check. Nelson said he is waiting for the check to clear so that he can replace the roof.

“I feel let down, very let down, from a guy who is supposed to be a veteran,” he said.

On Monday, Bouhan said what happened was “unfortunate and that it wasn’t his intention to take anyone’s money.” Bouhan said he’s completed 45 roofs in the past two months.

In addition, Bouhan confirmed he would be refunding Gwinnett County customer Jerrie Hightower, who signed over a $13,000 insurance claim check in September 2022. In that case, first reported last month by WANF, a Veterans Roof sales associate offered the homeowner a free roof inspection and said there was hail damage. 

After Hightower’s insurance carrier cut a check for $13,000 to replace the roof, Bouhan allegedly cashed the check but never completed the work. The homeowner told a reporter she’s filed a police report alleging theft. Bouhan’s former company, SimpliRoofing LLC, has an “F” rating with the Better Business Bureau.

A call placed to Veterans Roof seeking comment was not returned at press time.