Contractor Swindled Elderly Hurricane Milton Victims: Bradenton Police

BRADENTON, FL — A contractor accused of swindling elderly victims in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton was arrested Tuesday on 13 felony charges, Bradenton police said in a news release.

Fourteen residents at Seabreeze Mobile Home Park filed police complaints about Brian Michaud in July.

The victims, ranging from 62 to 95 years old, said they hired Michaud, who operated RedFin Construction, to repair damages caused by the hurricane.

Bank statements, contracts, and copies of checks indicated the victims made down payments to him, totaling $222,000 for aluminum repairs to their carports, lanais, roofs and sheds. However, Michaud never completed any of the work, police said.

Investigators learned that Michaud isn’t a licensed contractor in Florida and was using another company’s license.

Financial subpoenas for October 2024 through April 2025 showed that Michaud made multiple transactions and transfers between several business and personal accounts, police said.

Records also showed that he used these accounts for daily living and recreational expenses, including more than $53,000 spent at casinos.

While some transactions indicated that Michaud made construction-related purchases, he didn't use those materials to complete any of the victims' projects, investigators said.

He was charged with 10 counts of presenting someone else’s contractor’s license during a declared state of emergency, one count of scheming to defraud ($50,000 or more), one count of misappropriation of construction funds ($100,000 or more) and one count of aggravated white-collar crime against an elderly victim ($50,000 or more).

Michaud being is held without bond at the Manatee County jail.

Anyone who has a similar complaint against Michaud or RedFin Construction is asked to contact Detective Michael Carpenter at michael.carpenter@bradentonpd.com.

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