A stalled Fort Lauderdale construction job has turned into a criminal case for a 68-year-old Margate man, after police say he took more than $63,000 from a homeowner and left work unfinished.
Margate police arrested Adelmo Luiz Fernandes on May 14 after a traffic stop near Southgate Boulevard and State Road 7, saying he had an active Broward County warrant for second-degree grand theft. According to court paperwork, Fernandes ran a business using the name Best Contractors USA and entered a $125,500 construction agreement with a Fort Lauderdale homeowner in January 2023. Investigators say work on the properties was incomplete or never started, and Fernandes was booked into the Broward Main Jail.
What police allege
According to a probable cause affidavit, investigators say Fernandes and an associate "falsely represented themselves as licensed contractors" and persuaded the victim to sign a $125,500 agreement for work on two Fort Lauderdale properties.
Authorities say the homeowner paid $63,640.13 through Zelle and other methods between January and September 2023. Some of the work that was done allegedly failed inspections, according to the affidavit, while other work never began at all.
As reported by Margate Talk, the victim later filed a complaint with the state regulator after the job stalled.
How the arrest unfolded
On May 14, Margate police say an officer pulled Fernandes over near Southgate Boulevard and State Road 7 for a traffic stop. A warrant check turned up the active Broward County warrant for second-degree grand theft, and officers took him into custody without incident.
The arrest appears on the city's police blotter, as posted on Margate News, and Fernandes was processed at the Broward Main Jail. The Broward Sheriff's Office maintains a public Broward Sheriff's Office arrest search page that the agency says is updated regularly.
State complaint and regulator role
Police say the homeowner filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation after the work stalled, according to the police affidavit.
The DBPR's online portal lets consumers verify a contractor's license and report unlicensed activity. See the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation site for tools and filing instructions.
For practical tips on hiring contractors and documenting disputes, the Florida Attorney General's consumer page lays out steps homeowners should follow: Florida Attorney General.
Legal exposure
Fernandes was arrested on a Broward warrant for second-degree grand theft, an offense that applies to thefts valued at $20,000 or more but less than $100,000 under Florida law. A conviction for grand theft in the second degree is a felony under Florida Statute Florida Senate, and second-degree felonies can carry prison terms of up to 15 years under state sentencing law.
Prosecutors must still file formal charges and prove the elements of the alleged scheme in court before any penalties apply. Fernandes is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty in a court of law.
How homeowners can protect themselves
Contractor scams remain a frequent complaint in South Florida, especially during busy construction cycles and after storms. Officials advise verifying a contractor's license, keeping written estimates and contracts, and holding back large up-front payments until work is completed. Those precautions are recommended by the Attorney General and DBPR resources linked above.
Anyone with information about this case should contact Margate Police. Consumers who suspect similar conduct can file complaints with DBPR and the Florida Attorney General's consumer line.
