A Tampa contractor has been sentenced to five years in prison for stealing tens of thousands of dollars from an 87-year-old Bay County, Florida, man who was trying to rebuild after Hurricane Michael. Mark Eugene Stargardt, 66, owner of Stargardt and Associates, LLC, was sentenced Thursday, according to WJHG. A Bay County jury convicted him on June 16 of grand theft of more than $20,000.
Circuit Judge Shonna Young Gay imposed a 60-month prison term and ordered Stargardt to pay $46,606.33 in restitution to the victim. He has remained in custody since the jury returned its verdict in June. Prosecutors said he accepted about $38,000 in payments between February and May 2019 to repair the victim’s hurricane-damaged home and never finished the work.
Evidence at trial showed the only permit Stargardt obtained was for an initial demolition. Prosecutors said that demolition was left incomplete and performed improperly, and another contractor later had to redo it. By August 2019, no meaningful work had been completed on the property for six months.
Assistant State Attorney Zachary VanDyke said the victim repeatedly contacted Stargardt and his company for answers and got excuses and promises that the work would be finished. VanDyke said in a statement that the case has been “an absolute nightmare for the victim.” The victim reported the matter to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecutors said his detailed records helped investigators build the case. Basford thanked the sheriff’s office for the investigation that led to the arrest and conviction.
What the Charge Means Under Florida Law
In Florida, the value of what is taken sets the degree of a theft charge. Grand theft of $20,000 or more but less than $100,000 is a second-degree felony, which carries a maximum of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Stargardt’s 60-month term sits well below that ceiling.
The victim’s age can matter as well. Under Florida Statute 812.0145, theft from a person 65 or older is reclassified upward, and a theft of $10,000 or more but less than $50,000 from an older victim is a second-degree felony. The same statute requires a sentencing judge to order restitution and up to 500 hours of community service when more than $1,000 is taken from someone 65 or older. Prosecutors did not say which provision applied here, and the restitution figure exceeds the roughly $38,000 Stargardt took.
How Can Homeowners Avoid Contractor Fraud After a Storm?
Hurricane Michael made landfall in Bay County in October 2018 as a Category 5 storm, and repair work in the area ran for years afterward. Florida requires a state license for roofing, structural, electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning work, and homeowners can check a contractor’s status through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation at myfloridalicense.com or through its mobile app. The Florida Attorney General’s office also advises getting several written, itemized estimates, asking for references, and confirming with the insurer that a contractor’s coverage is current.
Payment terms are where these cases often turn. The Attorney General’s office advises against paying the full cost up front or handing over large deposits, and Florida law requires a contractor who collects more than 10% up front to apply for a permit within 30 days and start work within 90 days. Homeowners can file complaints with the DBPR, and those who lose money to a licensed contractor’s misconduct may be able to find recovery through the state’s Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund. In the Bay County case, the victim’s own records are what prosecutors credited with making the charge stick.