Roofer accused of grand theft has been punished 5 times by state

A Jacksonville roofer accused of taking thousands from homeowners and not doing any work has been punished five times by the state.

After Thursday's Action News Jax Investigation into First Coast Roofers, we found problems dating back to the 1990s.

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation has fined owner Robert Roberts, cited him and even suspended his license.

A DBPR spokesperson told Action News Jax she can’t confirm whether the agency is actively investigating Roberts’ First Coast Roofing.

But St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office reports show at least three Fruit Cove homeowners have complained to the DBPR about Roberts in the past few months.

Peter Gallant was one of them.

“I reached out to them and I understand that they’re investigating that now,” said Gallant.

Gallant said he reported Roberts for cashing his $7,000 deposit five months ago, but never replacing his roof.

When Action News Jax reached out to Roberts last week for his side of the story, he left a voicemail threatening to break our camera.

“Don’t twist those words around, as I just outright threatened you. I said, if you do that, I will take it back – I will smash it. I mean, I do not want to appear on your TV show. I do not want my face on TV,” Roberts said on March 1.

Roberts also said he intends to catch up on customers’ roofs.

Both the city of Jacksonville and St. Johns County said they won’t issue Roberts permits anymore.

First Coast Roofing has an F-rating with the Better Business Bureau.

A St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office spokesman told Action News Jax the agency referred two grand theft charges for Roberts to the state attorney’s office.

A state attorney’s office spokesman said the allegations are still being investigated.

“Perhaps other people would do their homework a little bit more than I did and it might save them this type of problem,” said Gallant.

If you're considering hiring a roofer or any other contractor, click here to look up any licensed contractor's history of complaints.

Cox Media Group