Florida fake contractor leaves homeowner with half-finished renovation

A Florida homeowner was left with half-finished and substandard renovation work after hiring a man who allegedly posed as a licensed contractor.

Authorities say Lawrence Hawkins was hired in April 2024 to carry out home renovations and presented paperwork claiming he held a valid contractor’s licence. The homeowner paid for the work, expecting the project to be completed professionally and on time.

Months later, the renovations remained unfinished and poorly done. Concerned, the homeowner sought legal advice, and an attorney discovered that Hawkins was not licensed to work as a contractor in Florida.

A report was filed with authorities in July 2025. After investigating the claims, deputies obtained an arrest warrant in October. Hawkins was taken into custody on December 16, 2025, and charged with fraudulently impersonating a contractor, according to the sheriff’s office.

Officials say the case highlights a growing problem in home improvement fraud and have urged residents to verify contractor licences through official state resources before hiring anyone for renovation work, sheriff office said.