Two contractors named Santana Brown and Alex James pleaded no contest and others had their cases dismissed today in Judge Mike Pitman's Caddo Parish Court. They were part of the  Community Development’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program.

All were charged after being found part of a housing scam against the poor, elderly and disabled in Shreveport. Some 81 percent of homes the city inspected after law enforcement stepped into the Community Development department showed signs of shoddy work, according to the Shreveport internal auditor’s report. And 30 percent of the residences had incomplete repairs for which construction contractors received payment.

Also in court were Ray Anthony Jones, Daniel Joseph LeCour and Jackie Mandigo who had their charges dropped because prosecution witnesses were deceased.