Unlicensed Contractor Who Stole From Hurricane Ian Victims Sentenced: FL State Attorney

VENICE, FL — An unlicensed contractor was sentenced to five years in the Florida Department of Corrections for charges related to stealing from hurricane victims, according to a news release from state attorney Ed Brodsky’s office.

Justin Hoover was found guilty of 36 counts of unlicensed contracting during a State of Emergency, 31 counts of grant theft from persons 65 years of age or older, six counts of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of unlicensed contracting.

He was also sentenced to five years of probation on each felony count to run consecutively and was ordered to pay about $212,000 in restitution to the victims, Brodsky’s office said.

Between January and April of 2023, Hoover of J & J Screens LLC entered into signed contracts and collected deposits from several Sarasota County residents. Most were in the Venice Isles Estates community.

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Deposits ranged from $1,500 to $15,000 for Hoover to perform work including repairing/building new car ports, repairing/building new screen rooms and building new sheds at homes that were damaged in Hurricane Ian.

“Because we live in Florida, damage from hurricanes is always on the mind of our citizens and for these victims it became a reality,” Amanda Morris, economic crime prosecutor, said. “Unfortunately, not only did they have to suffer from the impacts of Hurricane Ian but also from the impact of Justin Hoover who was not a licensed contractor and never completed the work. Justin Hoover stole the hard-earned money of veterans, seniors and those on fixed incomes and now he faces the reality of a prison sentence for his actions.”

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