DELTONA, Fla. – A 37-year-old unlicensed contractor from Orlando has been arrested for allegedly defrauding a Deltona homeowner out of nearly $15,000, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) announced Thursday.
Argelys Virgilio Zambrano Andrade, operating under the business name ZL Renovations LLC, was hired by a female customer to complete a kitchen remodel. She made a total of $14,950 in down payments to Zambrano Andrade for the project.
However, authorities say Zambrano Andrade never started the work and immediately cashed the checks. According to investigators, he never applied for the necessary permits and lacked the required licensing to legally perform the job.
He was arrested in Polk County and later booked into the Polk County Jail. Zambrano Andrade was released after posting a $5,500 bond and now faces multiple charges, including:
Contractor fraud
Engaging in contracting without certification during a state of emergency
VCSO did not release additional details about the investigation, but this case comes on the heels of a separate contractor fraud arrest last month, in which an unlicensed roofer was accused of stealing $30,000 from two customers in Volusia County.
Residents are urged to verify contractor licensing and permits before initiating home improvement projects.
