Shoplifting, Larceny, Robbery, Theft Contractor Theft

[LittleRN]

We paid a roofer to re-roof our house. He left the job unfinished and freely admitted he spent our money and could not complete the work. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Licensing investigated for us and decided they could not take his license away, but said we had enough for a civil case. Can he be charged with some type of theft or white collar crime? The amount of money involved is about $9000.00.

 

[CdwJava]

Call the police and find out. I suspect they will choose to relegate this to the civil arena, but you won't know until you call them and ask about it.

Theft generally requires an intent to commit the act. Simply failing to perform the work after being paid is not necessarily a crime.

But, give the cops a call. The worst thing that will happen will be that you still have to sue him.