A Nevada couple has been arrested after investigators accused them of involvement in a home sales and construction scheme that allegedly cost customers more than $1 million. The investigation continued even after a suspicious fire destroyed their former business location and numerous records.
Joshua Quinton Carradine and Angela Bell Carradine were booked into the Lyon County Jail on Oct. 7, 2026. Each faces 13 felony theft counts involving transactions connected to AJ Home Center and AJ Construction, formerly operating in Silver Springs.
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office began receiving complaints in June 2023 from customers involved in home purchases, construction agreements and related financial transactions. Detectives identified alleged victims in Nevada and California, with the wider investigation covering activity from April 2022 through February 2024.
Walker River Justice Court issued nationwide arrest warrants for both defendants on Sept. 25. Newly obtained court records confirm two separate criminal cases, each containing 13 theft counts. The cases remain open, with Angela’s next status hearing scheduled for Dec. 17.
Home Deals Led to More Than $1 Million in Alleged Losses
The investigation began after the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Central Command received complaints about transactions involving AJ Home Center and AJ Construction. Customers had entered agreements or committed money toward purchasing or building homes.
According to the sheriff’s announcement, the alleged activity affected numerous customers across Nevada and California. Investigators calculated the combined financial losses at more than $1 million.
The sheriff’s office said some customers had committed substantial portions of their personal savings, including money intended for housing purchases and construction projects. The financial consequences extended beyond the disputed payments for families who had expected to obtain homes through the business.
Additional complaints reached detectives during 2024. The investigation involved the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Housing Division and Nevada Attorney General’s Office, with investigators examining the disputed transactions over an extended period.
A Suspicious Fire Destroyed AJ Home Center’s Business Records
In June 2023, shortly after detectives began receiving complaints and contacted Joshua and Angela Carradine, a fire destroyed the AJ Home Center business location in Silver Springs.
The sheriff’s office described the fire as suspicious and said numerous business documents and records were destroyed. Investigators continued pursuing the financial complaints despite the loss of material that could have been relevant to reconstructing transactions involving the business.
During the investigation, the Carradines relocated out of Nevada. The sheriff’s office said their last known residence was believed to be in Tennessee.
Court Records Confirm 13 Felony Theft Counts Against Each Defendant
Walker River Justice Court opened Joshua Carradine’s three-page criminal case record on Sept. 25, 2026, under case number 26 CR 00530 3H. The case is assigned to Judge Pete J. Spinuzzi and contains 13 felony theft charges.
The counts are divided into three property-value categories. Five Category B felony counts concern alleged thefts involving at least $100,000 each. Another five Category B counts involve alleged values ranging from $25,000 to less than $100,000.
The remaining three counts are Category C felonies involving property allegedly valued from $5,000 to less than $25,000. The separate case record for Angela Carradine lists the same number of charges and the same value categories.
The court summaries identify March 27 through Dec. 28, 2023, as the offense-date range associated with the charges. That period falls within the wider April 2022 through February 2024 timeframe described in the sheriff’s investigation.
Nevada Revised Statute §205.0835 establishes felony penalties based on the value of property involved in a theft. A qualifying theft involving $100,000 or more can carry up to 20 years in prison, while theft involving $25,000 to less than $100,000 can carry up to 10 years.
Category C felony theft involving $5,000 to less than $25,000 generally carries a potential sentence of one to five years. These are statutory penalties for the charged offense categories, not sentences imposed against either defendant.
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office reported that bail was set at $100,000 for each Carradine following their arrests.
Angela Carradine’s Next Court Hearing Is Set for December 17
Angela Carradine’s separate court record, case 26 CR 00529 3H, confirms that her criminal case was filed Sept. 25 and contains 13 felony theft charges.
The court’s event history records an arraignment held Oct. 8, 2026, before Judge Pete J. Spinuzzi at Walker River Justice Court. A status hearing is scheduled for Dec. 17 at 9 a.m.
Joshua’s case summary also lists an Oct. 8 arraignment hearing. Both court records continue to identify the prosecutions as open and undisposed.
The charges remain allegations. Joshua and Angela Carradine are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Buyers Can Check Licensing and Deposit Arrangements Before Paying
Home purchases and construction agreements can involve substantial advance payments, making it important for buyers to establish who is responsible for the work and how their money will be handled.
The Nevada State Contractors Board recommends verifying a contractor’s license, obtaining multiple bids, reviewing references and requiring a written contract identifying the work, price and payment schedule.
For manufactured and factory-built housing transactions, the Nevada Housing Division oversees separate licensing requirements for dealers and salespeople. Buyers should verify which regulatory authority covers their particular transaction and check the relevant licensing status before committing funds.
Nevada Revised Statute §489.724 requires covered manufactured housing dealers to place certain down payments, earnest money and other funds received on behalf of another person into an authorized escrow or separate trust account. The law also establishes recordkeeping requirements and restrictions on withdrawals.
Buyers can ask who will hold a deposit, what agreement authorizes its release and when payments become due. Promised deliveries, construction milestones and refund conditions should be documented rather than left to verbal assurances.
Keep Independent Records of Home Purchases and Construction Payments
The destruction of business records during the Carradine investigation illustrates the value of customers retaining their own documentation of significant purchases, particularly those involving deposits, construction progress and payments to third parties.
Buyers should preserve signed agreements, invoices, receipts, bank transfer confirmations, change orders and communications describing promised delivery or completion dates.
Where a manufacturer or subcontractor is involved, independent confirmation of orders and scheduled work can provide another record of what has been arranged. Payments should be traceable to the business and transaction identified in the contract.
If a project stalls and the company cannot adequately account for payments, customers can preserve their documentation and contact the licensing authority responsible for that type of business. The Nevada State Contractors Board handles eligible contractor complaints, while the Nevada Housing Division addresses matters within its manufactured housing jurisdiction.
Suspected theft or fraudulent financial activity should also be reported to law enforcement. Independent payment records can help investigators reconstruct transactions when a business’s own documentation is no longer available.