Florida Man Arrested for Swindling Couple of $8,200 in Concrete Work
When clients request construction work, they need to make sure they have contracts in place from licensed contractors. And it’s best to make sure the contract is done properly, and not handwritten.
A Florida man committing to concrete construction work using a handwritten contract. He is now accused of swindling a couple out of $8,200.
The 33-year-old man from Mount Dora was arrested in May for fraud and grand theft charges. The charges stem from when he allegedly took $8,200 in an incident in May 2023. He received a deposit from a couple who hired him to pour a 2,400-square-foot concrete slab for their garage. While he agreed to the project, the man never even started the work.
The incident started when a couple sent a text message to Concrete Contractors of Ocala in May 2023. They inquired about a home improvement project and they were referred to a subcontractor.
The subcontractor came to their property a few days later to assess the project and then emailed them an estimate. He told the couple he could start the job on May 18 or May 19, 2023. He requested they pay the $8,200 deposit upfront for the cost of materials. He asked for the money via Zelle, but the couple refused. Instead, they paid via a cashier’s check.
On May 15, 2023, the subcontractor came to the couple’s home and wrote out a handwritten and signed contract. He left with the cashier’s check and cashed it that same day.
For nearly a month, the couple contacted the man for an update on the project. He gave a couple excuses, such as he was waiting to hear back on the permits or had equipment issues. He also said that his wife had suddenly passed away overnight. It is unknown whether or not this was actually true.
The couple contacted Marion County officials to get a status and learned a permit had never been filed for their concrete job. The couple is upset, stating that they trusted the man and felt that was a lot of money to lose without anything to show for it.
On June 14, 2023, the husband reached out to the representative who referred the subcontractor. Nobody could contact the man, but the representative gave the husband information regarding the man’s address, IRS tax employee ID numbers, and articles of incorporation letters.
The husband then hired a lawyer and sent a demand letter via certified mail on July 14, 2023. There was no response and police also could not find him at his listed address.
The subcontractor was finally located in May 2024. He was arrested and held on a $10,000 bond.
Learn More About Construction Contracts
Construction projects can be complicated for a number of reasons. Things can get especially frustrating when the parties do not follow through with their obligations.
Orlando construction & development contract lawyer B.F. Godfrey from Godfrey Legal can address your concerns and make sure you have a valid contract in place so you can avoid financial losses. Schedule a consultation by filling out the online form or calling (407) 890-0023.
Source:
fox35orlando.com/news/florida-contractor-scams-8k-from-couple-after-promising-to-do-work-with-handwritten-contract-affidavit
