Prominent Collier County roofing company “insolvent” after accounts freeze, leaving customers out thousands

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK) — A prominent Southwest Florida roofing company with decades of history in the area is shutting down its operations, leaving many customers scrambling to recover thousands of dollars in unreturned deposits and work payments.

Kelly Roofing, a household name in Collier County, announced it is unable to meet its financial obligations and is winding down operations. The closure follows sudden account freezes and bounced refund checks sent to anxious homeowners.

Bounced Checks and Frozen Accounts

Jerome and Valerie Palmieri of North Naples told Chief WINK Investigates Reporter Chorus Nylander they trusted Kelly Roofing with a $10,800 deposit on July 15 to replace their roof, citing the company’s stellar community reputation.

Just five days later, a FedEx delivery brought an abrupt change of plans: a check refunding their money alongside a notice that the company was halting all new contracts.

When the Palmieris deposited the check, it bounced.

"It's really awful, it really is," Jerome Palmieri said.

Naples resident Andrew Aste faced a similar ordeal after handing over a $5,650 deposit for a new roof after his insurance company mandated he replace his roof. Aste’s refund check also bounced, and when he contacted his bank, he was told the company's accounts had been frozen amid a fraud investigation.

"We live on social security and a little bit of pension," Aste said. "This is like two months of income for us."

Another customer, who asked to remain anonymous, reported paying $25,000 for a roof replacement that was left unfinished. Materials for the job remain outside their home.

That customer received an email stating the company was undergoing a restructuring at the ownership level and pausing production.

Lender Dispute and Insolvency

In letters sent to impacted customers, Kelly Roofing and Integrity Roofing—which merged with Kelly Roofing last year—attributed the sudden collapse to financial backing issues.

The letter stated that while funds were initially available to cover returned deposits, their lender unexpectedly reversed course and froze accounts.

"Unfortunately, our lender changed its mind overnight and froze the account early Tuesday morning," the letter read. "The Kelly Roofing/Integrity Roofing business is currently insolvent and winding down all operations."

A notice mirroring the letter was posted on the door of Kelly Roofing’s Collier County office. Representatives have not responded to repeated requests for comment by WINK Investigates.

High-Stakes Legal Battle

The shutdown comes on the heels of complex, multi-million-dollar litigation spanning multiple court jurisdictions.

Court records show a bitter legal battle involving allegations of multi-million-dollar fraud, manipulated job costs, and covert damage to online branding following the termination of a former executive with Integrity Roofing.

Last year Kelly Roofing sued the former president of Integrity Roofing with various accusations related to fraud.

It remains unclear if the litigation played a role in the sudden account freeze.

As the legal fallout continues, local customers are left weighing their next steps. The Palmieris noted that letters directing customers to financial firm Monument Capital yielded no results, with representatives stating they could not assist non-clients.

Homeowners like the Palmieris say they are prepared to pursue legal action if they are not made whole.

"They owe us, Kelly or any of these entities, it doesn't matter," Jerome Palmieri said. "They took our money."

WINK Investigates will continue to follow the situation closely. If you have a story you think WINK Investigates should look into, email us at winkinvestigates@winknews.com or call our tip line at 239-344-5074.