Lee County Court
Lehigh Acres man sentenced to three years of probation in unlicensed contracting case
A Lee County judge sentenced Ervin DeJesus Garcia to 36 months of state probation after he entered a no-contest plea to unlicensed contracting during a declared state of emergency. At a September 17, 2026, hearing, Judge Robert J. Branning adjudicated him guilty of the third-degree felony and ordered him to pay $7,600 in restitution to one of the homeowners.
The sentence also prohibits Garcia from contacting either homeowner. As a condition of probation, he cannot accept payment for or engage in construction-related work governed by Florida's contractor licensing law. He must submit a financial disclosure form every three months, or whenever his probation officer requests one. The court also assessed a $50 public defender application fee and $250 in prosecution costs.
The case arose from a Fort Myers home renovation arranged in spring 2025. According to the arrest records, the homeowners agreed to pay for flooring, kitchen and living-room remodeling, countertops, plumbing work, and shower doors. They paid a $14,500 deposit and later paid $3,200 for the shower doors. Investigators said bank records showed both checks were written to Doris Garcia, identified in the records as Garcia's wife. The records do not accuse her of a crime.
The homeowners told detectives that crews completed some flooring, drywall, and plumbing work, including moving the kitchen sink. They said the cabinets, countertops, and shower doors they had paid for never arrived. They reported the unfinished job to the Lee County Sheriff's Office in September 2025.
A detective reviewed the invoice and payment records. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation certified that Garcia had never held an active contractor's license in the state. One homeowner identified Garcia in a photo lineup, according to the arrest records.
Deputies arrested Garcia in Estero on March 4, 2026, after a judge issued a warrant. The charge was resolved by his no-contest plea and adjudication of guilt. His Lee County court case number is 26-CF-000126. The $7,600 restitution order covers the amount the court ordered Garcia to pay; the arrest records also describe work that was completed.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.