2 more SWFL unlicensed contractors censured in the wake of Hurricane Ian

Kate Cimini, Fort Myers News-Press
·4 min read
In this file photo, resident Stan Pentz walks out of a Iona neighborhood one day after Hurricane Ian made landfall on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2022. Behind him, homes have been crushed by the storm.
In this file photo, resident Stan Pentz walks out of a Iona neighborhood one day after Hurricane Ian made landfall on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2022. Behind him, homes have been crushed by the storm.

Florida has censured two more for performing contracting work in Southwest Florida without a license, according to records The News-Press / Naples Daily News obtained from the state.

The area was hard-hit by Hurricane Ian, causing an estimated $112.9 billion worth of damage in the U.S. and once the water receded, contractors flooded into the places that suffered the most damage.

Yet, not every contractor or repairman was licensed.

This week the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) censured two who preyed on residents of Southwest Florida shortly after the storm damaged their homes. One replaced a pool cage, while two offered roof repair and replacement, but none of the three was licensed.

Roger Dysart, a Cape Coral resident who did business under the name RD Construction, and Jason Paul Chapa, owner of Bonita Springs-based Five Starr Roofing Inc., have been cited by the state for work they performed or advertised in Lee County.

Both contractors cited here presented someone else's license as their own, DBPR noted, which is illegal. Unlicensed contractors can face fines of up to $10,000, per Florida Statute 489.12, and could see additional civil or criminal charges brought against them.

According to the Florida Department of Business Regulations' censure, weeks after Hurricane Ian slammed into Southwest Florida, Dysart took on a job installing a pool cage for a home in Cape Coral and received payment for his work. However, he was unlicensed and when asked for his license, Dysart presented someone else's license as his own, DBPR said.

In fact, the censure read, Dysart was at no point licensed to perform contracting work in Florida, nor was his business, RD Construction. In 2020, Dysart was charged with price-switching and petty theft in Colorado; the charge of price-switching was thrown out but he pleaded to the petty theft, per court records.

Dysart did not return a request for comment.

Chapa, like Dysart, was censured by the state for performing unlicensed work in Cape Coral following the hurricane. Chapa was cited for replacing roofs on four different homes under the business name Five Starr Roofing Inc between October 2022 and December 2022.

The report indicates Chapa presented a roofing license belonging to his dead father, Jason Paul Chapa, on proposals for the four roofing replacements he completed. According to the state, Five Starr Roofing was not a qualified business entity under the Florida Statutes.

Chapa, too, could not be reached for comment.

Previously: Did you hire these contractors? Florida censures 3 SWFL men for unlicensed contracting

This file photo shows flooding from Hurricane Idalia on and around Matlacha and Pine Island.
This file photo shows flooding from Hurricane Idalia on and around Matlacha and Pine Island.

How can I protect myself from hiring an unlicensed contractor?

When vetting potential contractors, customers should independently verify their contractors' license by going to myfloridalicense/DBPR and clicking on "verify a license." They should also search DBPR's database of complaints against unlicensed contractors.

DBPR communications manager MK Delegal suggested customers take these additional steps to avoid contractor fraud:

  • Remember that an occupational license does not qualify an individual to act as a contractor.

  • Remember that being registered with the Division of Corporations as an Inc. or LLC does not qualify an individual or company to act as a contractor.

  • Always get a written estimate, including work, materials, completion date and total cost.

  • Beware of contractors who claim to be the fastest and cheapest.

  • Check local building departments for any local license requirements.

Before signing a contract, consumers are encouraged to make sure the contract includes:

  • The contractor’s name, street address, telephone number and state license number.

  • A precise description of work to be completed, including a work completion timeline and list of materials.

  • Completion date, including cleanup after the work is finished.

  • Warranty agreements, including length, terms and recourse.

  • A notice of consumers’ rights under the Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund for contracts involving general, residential and building contractors.

Ways to spot an unlicensed contractor include:

  • Having no workers’ compensation insurance.

  • Targeting vulnerable people and taking advantage of homeowners’ needs for urgent repairs.

  • Traveling in unmarked vehicles, soliciting door-to-door or having out-of-state tags.

  • Giving a post office box address instead of a street address.

  • Demanding large payments up front, asking for cash payments, or asking for full payment before the work is completed.

  • Trying to convince homeowners a permit is not necessary or that it’s cheaper if the homeowner obtains it themselves.

Unlicensed activity can be reported via the department's hotline at 1-866-532-1440, via email at ULA@MyFloridaLicense.com, via the DBPR app or on the department's website.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida censures 2 more SWFL unlicensed contractors