A Tampa-area paver contractor already dogged by consumer complaints is now wanted on a felony organized fraud charge in Hillsborough County. The owner of SunDeck Pavers, Samuel (Sam) Garkey, is the subject of an active warrant that alleges he took thousands of dollars for jobs he did not complete. Neighbors and customers told investigators they paid deposits or full balances and were left staring at unfinished driveways and walkways instead of new pavers.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed an active arrest warrant alleging organized fraud in the $20,000 to $50,000 range, and detectives say multiple criminal inquiries are open, including some that cross county lines, as reported by WFLA. One Valrico homeowner, Jeremy Wolfe, told investigators he paid about $7,000 for pavers that never showed up, according to the station. WFLA's Better Call Behnken unit has tracked similar complaints from customers in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, and some of those customers say they have seen only partial refunds.
Homeowners Say They Paid Big, Got Half-Finished Work
Susan and Ron Borland of Apollo Beach told reporters they paid more than $17,000 to SunDeck Pavers for a driveway project that was never finished. Ron Borland said his goals are "to get his money back and to stop the company from doing it again," and he told WFLA he was pleased that a felony charge was issued. Garkey's criminal-defense attorney, Paul Sisco, told WFLA that Garkey "is doing everything in his financial power to make all his customers whole" and that some refunds have been made.
Paper Trail Shows Active Business, Mounting Complaints
State corporate filings list SunDeck Pavers LLC as registered to Samuel D. Garkey at 4152 Beeswax Lane in Land O' Lakes, according to the Florida Division of Corporations. Sunbiz records show annual reports filed through 2026. The company's profile with the Better Business Bureau lists 16 complaints and an F rating, adding to the consumer-complaint trail investigators are reviewing.
How Alleged Victims Can Report Their Case
Anyone who paid SunDeck Pavers and believes they were defrauded is urged to file a report with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The agency reviews online reports and may follow up if further investigation is warranted, according to HCSO. Homeowners are advised to keep contracts, invoices, photos, text messages and any other paperwork that could support a complaint. Customers in other counties should contact their local sheriff's office and hold on to payment records while prosecutors and detectives sort through the various claims.
What A Felony Organized Fraud Charge Means In Florida
Organized fraud is prosecuted under Florida's Communications Fraud Act, F.S. §817.034. Under Florida Statutes §817.034, an aggregated loss of $20,000 to $50,000 is treated as a second-degree felony that can carry up to 15 years in prison, with stiffer penalties when elderly or disabled victims are involved. Convicted defendants may also face fines and civil lawsuits from victims who want their money back. The statute allows prosecutors to aggregate losses from multiple victims when deciding how to grade the offense.
