Unlicensed contractor imprisoned in Sarasota hurricane scam

An unlicensed contractor from Riverview, Hillsborough County, was sentenced this week to five years in prison after prosecutors say he stole thousands of dollars from Sarasota County residents recovering from Hurricane Ian.

Justin Hoover, 47, of the 11600 block of Monette Road, was also ordered to pay $212,417.80 in restitution to the victims, according to a statement from the State Attorney’s Office for the 12th Judicial Circuit, which includes Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties.

Hoover is listed as the CEO of J & J Screens LLC in Florida’s Division of Corporations website, which shows the company intended to install screen enclosures is currently inactive.

Prosecutors say Hoover did not have the appropriate license to perform work but signed contracts and collected deposits from Sarasota County residents who sustained damage from Hurricane Ian between January and April 2023 to repair or build car ports and screen rooms as well as build new sheds. Hurricane Ian hit in September 2022.

Deposits that Hoover accepted ranged from $1,500 to $15,000, and were mostly in the Venice Isles Estates community, according to prosecutors. In one case noted in the probable cause affidavit, authorities say Hoover took a $6,000 deposit to build a new carport and screen room and install new gutters and a soffit at a customer’s residence in February 2023. By May of that year, work was not started, materials were not delivered, permits were not pulled and there was no further contact from Hoover after the resident provided the deposit, officials say. The Sarasota County Building Licensing and Enforcement issued fines for each case in which Hoover entered into contracts without a license before the cases were received by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the affidavit says.

“Because we live in Florida, damage from hurricanes is always on the mind of our citizens, and for these victims it became a reality. Unfortunately, not only did they have to suffer from the impacts of Hurricane Ian but also from the impact of Justin Hoover, who was not a licensed contractor and never completed the work,” Assistant State Attorney Amanda Morris says in a statement. “Justin Hoover stole the hard-earned money of veterans, seniors and those on fixed incomes and now he faces the reality of a prison sentence for his actions.”

Circuit Court Judge Dana Moss sentenced Hoover to five years in prison followed by five years of probation for each felony count, to run consecutively. Hoover was sentenced for 36 counts of unlicensed contracting during the state of emergency, 31 counts of grand theft from those 65 years or older, six counts of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of unlicensed contracting, according to prosecutors.

Citizens can confirm contractors are licensed in Florida by checking the Department of Business and Professional Regulation website, and prosecutors advise people to be cautious when a contractor asks for more than a 10% deposit.