Wayne County – A Pikeville man has been arrested following an investigation by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office into allegations that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in advance payments for home improvement work that was never completed.
Anthony Tyrone Smoot, 55, was taken into custody on May 29, 2025, and charged with four counts of Obtaining Advances Under Promise to Work and Pay for Same in violation of N.C.G.S. 14-104. Smoot is currently being held without bond at the Wayne County Detention Center.
The charges stem from an investigation launched after three individuals — two from Wayne County and one from South Carolina — reported to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office on April 24, 2025, that they had been victims of contractor fraud. According to the Sheriff’s Office, all three complainants had entered into contractual agreements with Smoot for various repair and remodeling projects on properties in Wayne County.
Each victim stated that they had paid Smoot in advance for services that were either never started or never completed. In total, the victims collectively reported a loss of approximately $40,000.
The investigation, conducted by the Sheriff’s Office Warrant Division, determined that Smoot failed to perform the contracted work or issue any refunds, prompting authorities to pursue criminal charges.
Upon arrest, Smoot was found to have an additional active warrant from Robeson County for the same offense. The Robeson County charge was served alongside the three warrants originating from Wayne County.
The Sheriff’s Office also confirmed that Smoot was already out on pretrial release for a separate pending offense, which triggered a no-bond condition under the North Carolina Pretrial Integrity Act.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office did not disclose whether additional charges may be forthcoming or if further victims have come forward.
Authorities remind residents to thoroughly vet contractors before entering into agreements and to avoid paying large sums of money upfront without verified references or contracts.
