Contractor fraud is something a lot of people have experienced in the Gulf Coast after hurricanes.
Barabara Antonucci, a Charlotte County resident, is one of those people. She was supposed to get hurricane shutters put up by contractor Brian White after Hurricane Ian.
They have since been put up by a different contractor because White promised to do the work, but never did. White gave her an estimate of $9,800, and he required 30% down.
He promised to do the work, so she paid, but after that, it was one excuse after the other as to why he could not do the work. Eventually, he stopped responding to her.
"It was very frustrating because, initially, he was very nice to me," Antonnuci said.
She is not alone.
Geraldine Brown, a detective with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, said contractor fraud is a widespread issue across Florida.
"I do my best to meet with the victims, gather evidence as far as communication they had with a contractor, invoices, proof of payment," Brown said.
She then makes sure it meets Florida statutes for unlicensed contracting or contractor fraud. She said according to Florida Statute 489126, contractors who take more than 10% of a contract price are required to either apply for permits within 30 days or start the work within 90 days.
How does a case become criminal versus civil?
"They have to send a demand letter to the contractor stating that they either need to pull the permits they need to start the work or demand a refund," Brown said. "Homeowners have to give the contractor 30 days to take action. If the contractor does not take action within the 30 days, then at that point, homeowners can choose to file a criminal report with the sheriff's office."
Antonucci sent White a demand letter. At the time, she demanded $4,900 within 30 days. White responded, saying he signed the letter, but he did not take any action.
However, that is not always the case. Even then, Brown said she always tells homeowners they are likely not going to get their money back.
While Antonucci knows she will never see her money again, she is grateful for two things: She and others put him out of business and "we saved other people from becoming victims because I know that they would have."
"Hear me when I say, if you do commit this crime in Charlotte County, we will come after you," Brown said.
Now, Antonucci just hopes the state attorney's office can put an end to this case so she can get the full justice she deserves.
"Justice to me would be putting him in jail for 10 or 15 years," Antonucci said.
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