CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — A roofing contractor was arrested for conducting business without a Florida license.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation called Charlotte County Economic Crimes Unit regarding an investigation on an unlicensed roofing company conducting business in Florida. Investigators informed the CCSO detective that Duque Roofing had already agreed to work for certain homeowners.
The homeowner advised that he met with a Duque Roofing employee at the Community Center on Cape Haze Blvd. After receiving an estimate from the employee at his home, the homeowner agreed to a written contract for roof repair.
The DBPR investigator met with the CCSO detective at the Community Center and located the area where the Duque Roofing trucks and trailers were parked. They spoke with Terence Duque, 48, owner of the company.
Duque advised that he read the Governor’s State of Emergency order regarding contractors and understood it to mean that contractors from out of state were permitted to work in Florida.
Duque also mentioned that he spoke to a DBPR representative and was given permission to work in Florida. However, the investigator informed Duque that this was not the case and he would be placed under arrest, as he had already done work violating the statute.
“Ignorance is not an excuse. If you are in Charlotte County, doing business with the people of this community, you had better be on the up-and-up and have the appropriate licensing and insurance. These people have been through enough, and I will not allow unlicensed contractors to further victimize them,” said Sheriff Prummell.
Terence Duque was arrested and transported to the Charlotte County Jail without issue.