A Florida roofer hoping to pull a fast one on a customer didn’t anticipate one thing: that reputable roofing contractors will steer customers right.

A story from the Villages News — which covers one of the world’s largest retirement communities known as The Villages — reports that Gerardo Gonzalez Jr., 51, of Mount Dora, Fla., pleaded no contest in Sumter County Court to a charge of criminal mischief.

According to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, in August 2024, a woman living in the Village of Amelia requested roof evaluations from multiple roofing companies.

Eustis Roofing Company determined the “roof looked good and had approximately 10 years left.” Sky Light Roofing said the “roof was older but didn’t need to be replaced right away.” Batterbee Roofing assessed that the “roof was older and would need to be replaced soon.”

On the recommendation of a Realtor, the resident also contacted Gonzalez Jr., under the impression he worked for a roofing company. He informed the resident that her roof was severely damaged, providing 14 photos as evidence. He said an insurance claim would cover the damage.

Rightly confused, the resident contacted two of the previous companies that didn’t find the damage. They had their own photos showing none of the damage found during Gonzalez Jr.’s “inspection.” The Village News said one of the roof inspectors told a deputy that in his 16 years of experience, he had never seen that type of damage.

To make matters worse, the inspector said the “only logical explanation” was that it was “caused intentionally” to generate business by encouraging the resident to file an insurance claim.

Records show deputies arrested Gonzalez Jr. on Jan. 2, 2025. He was arraigned on March 4, and on Oct. 15, he entered a no-contest plea. Judge Mary Hatcher sentenced him to six months’ probation.