Miami Beach Man Arrested for $9,000 Home Renovation Fraud Scheme

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Julio Rodriguez, 51, of Miami Beach, on Tuesday in connection with a contractor fraud scheme that victimized a homeowner more than two years ago. Rodriguez allegedly presented himself as the owner of Bold Design Inc. and convinced the victim to pay a $9,000 deposit for kitchen and countertop installation work that was never started.

The fraudulent agreement, reached on March 20, 2024, at a residence in the Hammocks area near Southwest 99th Lane, involved extensive remodeling work valued at approximately $15,000. According to investigators, Rodriguez cashed the victim’s check the same day he received it and never provided materials, performed labor, or returned the funds to the homeowner.

Regulatory and Economic Resources investigators determined that neither Rodriguez nor his company held valid contractor licenses in Miami-Dade County or the state of Florida. Multiple attempts by law enforcement to contact Rodriguez and resolve the matter were unsuccessful until the victim identified him in a photo lineup.

Following his arrest, Rodriguez waived his Miranda rights and confessed to the allegations, citing financial difficulties as motivation for the scheme. He was charged with third-degree grand theft and operating as an unlicensed contractor and was released Wednesday from Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center after posting a $3,000 bond.