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An 85-year-old woman was the victim of a serious scam in her own home after hiring a supposed remodeling professional.
Carlos Cabrera, a 34-year-old man residing in Hialeah, was arrested for charging more than 39,000 dollars, completely dismantling the victim's kitchen, and then abandoning the work unfinished, according to local news citing the police report as the source.
The accused did not have a license to operate as a contractor and faces charges of grand theft, exploitation of an elderly person, and unlicensed contracting.
The promise of a renovation
According to the arrest report, in February 2023, Cabrera -whose nationality of origin has not been disclosed- signed a contract to remodel the kitchen and bathroom of a residence located in Miami Springs.
The victim, an elderly woman, trusted that he was a qualified worker and agreed to make advance payments to start the project.
During that year, Cabrera received three checks totaling 28,846 dollars; another for 5,850, and a third for 4,680, amounting to a total of 39,376 dollars, as stated in the court documents.
With the money in hand, he began working on the house, albeit only in a partial capacity.
"Completely dismantled the kitchen"
What followed was devastating. According to the police report, Cabrera completely dismantled the kitchen of the house, removing furniture and rendering the area entirely unusable.
The last time he/she did any work was on April 27, 2023.
After that date she did not reappear, cut off all communication with the owner, and left the woman with an "unusable" kitchen, as the report describes.
For a person of his age, the situation represented not only a significant financial loss but also a direct impact on his daily life.
Abandonment and Denunciation
In the absence of responses, the victim decided to approach the authorities and filed a formal complaint with the Department of Commercial and Professional Regulation.
The investigation confirmed their suspicions: Carlos Cabrera was operating as an unlicensed contractor, a crime that is exacerbated when the affected individual is a senior citizen.
The researchers concluded that the accused received the money, started the work in a limited manner, and then deliberately abandoned it, leaving the elderly woman without one of the most essential spaces in her home.
A history that worsens the case
Cabrera's arrest took place this Wednesday when he was transferred to the Miami-Dade County jail.
Judicial records reveal an especially concerning element: the defendant was out on bail for another similar case that occurred earlier this year, also related to grand theft and unlicensed work.
During her appearance before the bail court on Thursday, the prosecution emphasized the vulnerability of the victim, noting that she was about 85 years old when she was scammed, a key factor in supporting the charge of exploitation of an elderly person.
Cabrera's bail was set at $3,500. At the time of this report, the defendant is no longer listed in the prison records.
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