SMITHFIELD – A remodeling contractor using a stolen identity is accused of defrauding a Johnston County family.
Carlton Seymour Andrean, age 50, formerly of Clayton, NC had reportedly been on the run for several years. He was recently located in South Carolina and returned to Johnston County on June 26, 2024 and formally charged.
In March 2020, the victims hired Andrean to remodel their Clayton-area home. They provided $10,000 upfront towards the cost of materials and labor. The suspect even signed a contract with the family detailing what work would be performed.
The victim did not know at the time Andrean was using the stolen identity of a man from Guam. Andrean reportedly used the stolen identity on the contract and presented himself as the individual.
After giving Andrean $10,000, he didn’t show up to start the remodeling work as promised. When contacted approximately two weeks later, Andrean reportedly said he had been busy and would start the project soon. He never returned. It was later determined Andrean had moved out of state.
Warrants were obtained for Andrean’s arrest in 2020. He had been on the run for four years before he was located last month in South Carolina and arrested.
Andrean was given a $100,000 bond at the Johnston County Detention Center in Smithfield. Following his first court appearance, he was granted a court-appointed attorney.
