In the wake of Hurricane Milton’s devastation, Polk County authorities have arrested Wilmer Maldonado, owner of WM Roofing, for operating without a license and failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance. Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced the arrest, praising the swift action of his fraud detectives.
“Huge kudos to our DFAST detectives for upholding the law, protecting consumers, and making this arrest,” he was quoted as saying, in part.
Maldonado was caught by the Disaster Fraud Action Strike Team (DFAST), which has been patrolling storm-hit areas, hunting down illegitimate contractors looking to exploit homeowners.
Maldonado allegedly advertised roof repair services on Facebook, securing a $5,000 deposit from a local homeowner. Maldonado then hired unskilled laborers from a Home Depot parking lot, paying them a mere $200 in cash to fix the roof—a dangerous shortcut that could have left the homeowner in a precarious situation.
CFO Jimmy Patronis did not hold back in his condemnation of fraudulent contractors.