Fake contractor scams Miami-Dade homeowner out of $9,200, deputies say

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A man is facing theft and unlicensed contracting charges after deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office say he accepted thousands of dollars to install impact windows and doors but never began the work.

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According to an arrest report, 34-year-old Maikel Alvarez Reyes entered into an agreement with a homeowner near the 900 block of Northwest 99th Street in the county’s Pinewood neighborhood to install glass windows and doors for $11,352.

Investigators said the victim paid Alvarez Reyes an initial $6,200 in May 2024 and another $3,000 in June 2024, totaling $9,200.

They said no work was ever started, and no materials were provided despite repeated attempts by the homeowner to either recover her money or receive the purchased materials.

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Deputies confirmed the arrest of Alvarez Reyes on Wednesday.

After waiving his Miranda rights, investigators said he gave a statement that was redacted from the publicly released report.

Jail records show Alvarez Reyes is facing one count each of third-degree grand and contracting without a license.

As of Thursday, the Cuban national was being held on an immigration hold at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was listed as “to be set.”

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