Boca Raton contractor accused of taking $1,000 deposit for home improvement job and disappearing without completing work in Lake Worth

Boca Raton, Florida – A routine home improvement job in Palm Beach County has turned into a felony case after investigators say a contractor accepted payment from a homeowner and never completed the work, then disappeared for months.

A 63-year-old Boca Raton man, identified by authorities as Paulo Rocha, is now facing a charge under Florida’s contractor fraud statute. The law makes it illegal for a contractor to take construction money and fail to either complete the agreed work or return the funds.

According to an arrest report reviewed by BocaNewsNow.com, the case began in March 2025 when Rocha agreed to replace an accordion window shutter at a home in Lake Worth. The total agreed price was $1,000 for materials and an additional $200 for labor. The homeowner paid the full amount by check, and investigators say the payment was cashed the following day.

What happened next is at the center of the criminal case. The shutter was never installed.

Read also: Attorney General James Uthmeier signs emergency rule immediately classifying dangerous 7-OH and related compounds as Schedule I controlled substances in Florida

At first, the situation appeared to be a delay. But according to investigators, weeks turned into months, and the homeowner repeatedly tried to get updates. Rocha allegedly responded with a series of explanations that shifted over time. At one point, he claimed the shutter had been damaged. Later, he said he was waiting for a refund from a supplier before he could proceed with the work.

None of the explanations resulted in progress on the project.

By October 2025, communication had largely stopped. Investigators say Rocha no longer responded to messages, and the phone numbers associated with him were disconnected. His last known communication came in September, when he reportedly told the homeowner he would reach out again after leaving a clinic. After that message, there was silence.

The homeowner, left without the completed work or the return of her money, eventually sought help from law enforcement. The case was assigned to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office detective, who began reviewing documentation, messages, and payment records connected to the agreement.

Over the following months, investigators worked to track down Rocha. The case moved slowly through the system as officials gathered evidence and attempted to establish his whereabouts. Eventually, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Rocha was taken into custody on Sunday. As of early Monday morning, he remained held without bond, according to officials familiar with the case.

The arrest highlights a type of complaint that investigators say is not uncommon in construction-related disputes: a homeowner pays upfront for materials or labor, but the job is delayed indefinitely or never completed at all. In Florida, contractor fraud statutes are designed to address exactly this type of situation when money is taken and work does not follow.

Read also: Northwood Village launches extended summer dining specials and savings campaign highlighting local restaurants, wellness studios, and small businesses across West Palm Beach

In this case, authorities say the financial amount was relatively modest at $1,200 total, but the legal consequences are serious. Under state law, contractor fraud can be charged as a felony depending on the circumstances and intent, particularly when communication stops and no effort is made to complete or refund the work.

Investigators have not indicated whether Rocha has entered a plea or made any formal statement regarding the allegations. The case remains open as it moves through the judicial process.

For the homeowner, what began as a simple home repair request has now stretched into nearly a year of unanswered messages, delays, and uncertainty. For prosecutors, it has become a straightforward question of whether the money was accepted in good faith or taken without intent to complete the job.

Rocha is expected to make an initial court appearance in the coming days as the case proceeds.