Unlicensed contractor vanishes, leaves family with half of a roof and none of the goods

www.cbs12.com, Sophie Pendrill, April 3, 2025

LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — An unlicensed contractor from Lake Worth Beach has been accused of disappearing mid-project, leaving his former client out of over $7,000 and with a roof half-finished.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) said that on July 19, 2024, a mother and daughter reported that they had hired a contractor to reroof their home in Lake Worth Beach. However, it was never completed.

The probable cause affidavit says that the victims entered into an agreement with Raini Services, owned by Fernando Tovar, in February 2024. Tovar allegedly said the total re-roofing project would cost $14,000.

Officials reported that the payment plan included a $5,000 down payment, $6,000 upon completion of the dry-in process, and $3,000 at the final inspection. The family paid the initial down payment on February 10, 2024, and work commenced shortly after.

As work began, Tovar, 46, requested an additional $1,000 for unforeseen wood replacement, which the victim provided. However, after inspecting the roof, they discovered that only the sloped portion had been completed and the flat section still required work. The victims stressed to deputies that their agreement was for the entire roof to be redone.

The report states that after April 6, 2024, communication from Tovar ceased, prompting the victims to send a demand letter on April 29, warning Tovar of potential legal action if he did not fulfill the agreement. Despite receiving confirmation that the letter was delivered, the family had no further contact with Tovar.

According to PBSO, the victims said they took a deeper dive into Tovar only to discover that he was not a licensed roofing contractor after consulting with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Additionally, the victims recorded him on surveillance footage removing building materials from their property.

After hiring another contractor to finish the roof, the victims and PBSO deputies learned that they were at a financial loss totalling $7,200.

Tovar has been accused of engaging in a contracting business without certification and grand theft of monies received by a contractor.

News article: Unlicensed contractor vanishes, leaves family with half of a roof and none of the goods