A man who claimed to be a licensed contractor took $11,000 for a kitchen renovation that he didn’t finish, according to Stuart police officials.
John Pedatella was arrested April 16 and charged with engaging in contracting without being duly registered or certified, according to officials.
In April 2025, homeowners in Stuart entered into a contract with Pedatella, who claimed to be a licensed contractor, for a kitchen renovation that began in May 2025.
However, by September 2025, the project remained incomplete, according to officials. At that time, the Stuart homeowners had paid Pedatella $11,000, and the work was never finished.
The homeowners reported the incident to the Stuart Police Department in February 2026. Detectives reviewed the contract, communications between both parties and state licensing records as part of their investigation.
Police officers, along with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, served a warrant on April 16 for Pedatella’s arrest.
Pedatella was taken to the Martin County Jail and was released about 8:30 p.m. the same day on a $1,000 bail, according to a jail official.
Officials reminded the community to verify contractors are licensed properly before hiring them. Check contractor licensing through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation at myfloridalicense.com.
Laurie K. Blandford is a breaking news reporter with TCPalm. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Man claims to be licensed contractor, incomplete renovation in Florida
Reporting by Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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