VOLUSIA COUNTY, FL – A man who was impersonating a home improvement contractor made off with $74,000 from a Volusia County woman, police reported on Wednesday.
“Sheriff’s detectives are seeking a Central Florida man who intentionally impersonated a licensed contractor and defrauded a female victim out of nearly $74,000 – and they’re working to determine whether more Volusia County residents have been scammed by him,” the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office reported. “An arrest warrant has been issued for Joseph England, 38, of Geneva in Seminole County for grand theft and obtaining property by fraud, along with false impersonation – his second offense.”
England was investigated by state officials in 2015 and 2016 of falsely identifying himself as a licensed contractor. He was convicted in Lake County in 2016.
“The Volusia Sheriff’s Office was alerted by a De Leon Springs woman who hired England and his company, England Site Development LLC, to build a large barn on her farm. The victim told detectives England was knowledgeable about the construction process and assured her he was a licensed contractor,” the agency reported. “However, England kept asking the victim for additional money, yet only minimal work was done on the building and soon he ceased to communicate with the victim.”
Detectives learned from the Department of Business & Professional Regulation that England does not hold an electrical contractor nor a general contractor license in Florida.