STUART, Fla. (CBS12) — An unlicensed contractor in Stuart has been arrested for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting homeowners in a botched kitchen renovation that left them out of pocket $11,000 and unfinished work.
The Stuart Police Department announced on Friday that the incident began in April 2025 when the victims entered a contract with John Pedatella, who claimed to be a licensed contractor.
According to the Police Department, renovations began in May 2025, but by September of that year, the project was still unfinished. The victims reportedly had already paid Pedatella a total of $11,000, only to find the work incomplete and the contractor unresponsive…