Across Brevard County, a growing list of homeowners say their big-ticket window projects turned into a disappearing act. A Melbourne company allegedly took thousands of dollars in deposits, then shut down before a single pane was installed, sending families scrambling for refunds and investigators on the trail of the missing money.
The fallout now includes civil lawsuits and a criminal inquiry as victims and local officials chase paperwork and bank records to find out where the cash went and whether this is more than just a business gone bad.
Paul Sanford and his wife are among those taking the company to court. Their suit names American Made Windows of Central Florida and owner Zeuxis Salazar, and says Sanford put down $7,300 on December 3, 2025, only to watch the calendar advance while no work ever began. Another couple, Keith and Brook Schneider, say they wrote a check for nearly $24,000 that cleared the very next day but never saw the promised installations. Those details and the civil filings were reported by FOX 35 Orlando.
Investigators Subpoena Bank Records As Complaints Pile Up
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office confirms it has an active criminal investigation and is now contacting customers who say they are out thousands. "They're reaching out to the victims, getting statements from them, subpoenaed for bank records," sheriff's office spokesman Tod Goodyear told reporters, describing an investigation that is starting with the basics: follow the paper trail.
State Attorney William Scheiner signaled that turning this mess into a criminal case will not be automatic. Prosecutors would have to prove intent at the moment the contracts were signed, not just bad business decisions after the fact. "What we would have to show for criminal intent for fraud is that that moment of contract signing, that the time I paid you, you had no intent of ever starting the work," Scheiner said, according to FOX 35 Orlando.
State Records Show Company Dissolved While License Still Shows Active
On paper, the business has already pulled the plug. Florida Division of Corporations records show American Made Windows of Central Florida LLC filed a voluntary dissolution on May 21, 2026, listing Salazar as the registered agent and principal, according to Sunbiz.
At the same time, contractor-license databases that pull from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation still list an active license tied to Salazar through August 31, 2026, per ContractorLicenseCheck. That mismatch is exactly the kind of thing that can lull customers into a false sense of security, since the license listing made the company look legitimate even as it was dissolving.
Customers Chase Refunds, File Complaints And Hit Dead Ends
Several homeowners told reporters they received an email stating that the company was ceasing all operations and that a bankruptcy filing was on the way. That is not the email you want to see after handing over five figures. To add to the confusion, the law firm named in that message told a station it does not represent the business at all.
Action 9 covered a Titusville homeowner who says she paid $5,000 in November 2025 for sliding glass doors that never materialized. The Better Business Bureau, meanwhile, shows multiple complaints against the company. For consumers trying to figure out what to do next, WFTV points residents to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the state Attorney General as key places to file complaints and look for guidance.
How Homeowners Can Protect Themselves Before The Next Big Deposit
Consumer advocates say there are a few unglamorous steps that can help keep a dream renovation from turning into a legal nightmare.
Before handing over any substantial money, insist on a written contract that clearly spells out the contractor's license number, the full scope of work and a payment schedule that is tied to milestones, not vague promises. Verify the license independently at the state portal or through contractor-license lookup tools. Keep copies of every payment receipt, email and text.
It also helps to check with your county permitting office to see whether the contractor has actually pulled permits for the job. If you believe you have been defrauded, file complaints with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Attorney General, preserve all bank and contract records, and consider civil options. License verification tools are available through ContractorLicenseCheck.
The investigation into American Made Windows of Central Florida is ongoing. Investigators say anyone who paid the company and has not received the work should contact the Brevard County Sheriff's Office and hold onto invoices, contracts and bank statements. For the families out thousands, the priority is blunt and simple: get their money back.
