Man who bilked Aiken woman is wanted in N.C. for similar crimes

A North Carolina man ordered to pay restitution to an Aiken woman he bilked out of money promising home repairs he never completed is wanted by officials in his home state on allegations he has been committing similar crimes there to pay the court-ordered payments in Aiken.

In October 2008, Jonathan Williams, 29, of Stantonsburg, N.C., was charged with two counts of breach of trust for more than $5,000, two counts of obtaining goods under false pretenses, conspiracy and two counts of taking advantage of a vulnerable adult.

According to local investigators, he was later ordered to pay restitution to the Aiken victim, a woman in her 80s who had been writing checks to Williams and others for more than a year believing the necessary repairs were being made to her Aiken home.

Her attorney noticed the inordinate number of checks she was writing and contacted local police.

Investigators said Williams was involved with a group of men targeting established neighborhoods in the area where older residents live, preying on widows and widowers. Authorities in Jacksonville, N.C., have found the man is again involved in the same type of crimes.

This time, officials said he has been robbing his North Carolina victims to repay the Aiken woman.

The dates match up, investigators said.

Police in Jacksonville confirm the allegations and have issued warrants for Williams' arrest.

However, a police spokesperson in Jacksonville had few details to release about the matter, saying only that Williams was still at-large.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.