TAMPA, Fla. — Bradenton Police officials announced they arrested Brian Michaud in relation to an investigation into unfinished hurricane repair work for seniors.
“He was portraying himself as a licensed contractor, the license he was using was someone else’s, who had given him zero permission,” Bradenton Police Chief Josh Cramer said. “It’s illegal to do that in Florida; it’s a third-degree felony.”
Detectives started investigating complaints out of Seabreeze Estates in July 2025, saying the investigation revealed fourteen residents paid $222,000 for repairs that were never completed.
Bradenton Police arrested Brian Michaud on December 16 on thirteen felony charges.
“Absolutely nothing, he didn’t lift a stone off of this property,” said Sandra Bailey, who adds she paid Michaud more than $19,000.
“He was hired to do both the carport and repair shed; nothing happened,” said Bailey.
Another Seabreeze resident, Tom Coleman, says he paid Michaud $18,000.
“He did the carport, our maintenance shed, or utility shed and then he actually did the roof and the rough-in of this room,” said Coleman.
He worked to finish the Florida room himself, just one of the projects he said Michaud left unfinished.
“Some of the front still isn’t finished, none of the trim, he put the wrong gutters on the roof, he didn’t install these windows or doors in this room,” said Coleman.
Police say Michaud faces multiple charges, including ten counts of presenting someone else’s contractor’s license during a declared state of emergency. (third-degree felonies)
He also faces one count of scheming to defraud, one count of misappropriation of construction funds, and one count of aggravated white-collar crime against an elderly victim.
“Part of the criteria of that is that it has to be ten victims or more,” said Cramer. He said that more victims are coming forward.
So far, the fourteen victims identified range in age from 62 to 95.
These seniors are now working to recover financially. They’re also working to finish repairs.
“He made a ton of promises that were just broken consistently; it was mentally exhausting to go through that with him,” Bailey said. “It’s a relief to get this done and move on with our lives.”