Wilmington businessman accused of taking money from CA fire victims

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Investigators in California say a Wilmington businessman might be scamming wildfire victims in the San Francisco bay area.

The California contractor’s state license board is investigating a debris removal company believed to be owned by Peter Koke of Wilmington.

Investigators say Koke took between $15,000 and $20,000 from fire survivors and failed to complete the work on at least one property and did not do any work on another.

Just last week, Koke was found guilty of insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretenses in New Hanover County.