Venice man charged with scamming residents over bogus screen-repair jobs after Wilma

Collier County sheriff’s deputies arrested a man Tuesday who, authorities say, scammed 14 Collier County residents out of more than $60,000 after Hurricane Wilma hit South Florida last October.

Investigators said between Oct. 26 and Feb. 14 Brian Jeffrey Buck, of Venice, posed as the owner of a screen-repair business called “Screen Enclosures by Brian.” The 14 Collier County victims all called Buck’s business to have him repair or replace screened enclosures that were damaged by the storm.

Buck, 33, would meet with the people, give an estimate and then ask for a 30 percent to 50 percent deposit to purchase materials, authorities said.

Once they gave him money they never saw him again. Buck took a total of $63,842 from the 14 victims, said Investigator Tom Muscato.

“His proposals were a lot less than the reputable companies’, plus he said he’d get it done as quick as he could,” said Muscato. “He was an unlicensed contractor just trying to rip people off. I don’t think he had any intention of doing the work.”

Naples resident Joseph Germain, 53, said he feels bad because he was the person who called Buck down from Venice in the first place. Germain said that after Wilma passed he couldn’t find a local company to repair his two-story pool cage damaged by the storm.

He found Buck’s company on the Internet, he said.

“He came down within about a week,” Germain said. “I’m the one who brought him here. Everyone can thank me.”

Brian Buck

On Nov. 9, Buck gave Germain an estimate of $19,900 for his job and told Germain he’d get a discount if he got Buck more business. Germain said he gave Buck the names of some friends and neighbors who also needed work.

Germain said he signed a “flimsy, one page” contract that said the work would be done by Jan. 24. He also gave Buck $6,700 up front, he said.

Buck cashed the check immediately and never returned, Germain said.

“Gosh, he was very believable,” Germain said. “He came down with his little 7- or 8-year-old son. He used him on many occasions to smooth the people over.”

Germain said Buck never returned multiple phone calls. Eventually, he said, he found Buck online and asked for his money back. Buck told Germain that he would return the money but never did, Germain said.

Finally Germain told Buck he was going to turn it over to the police and may contact the Florida Department of Children and Families because Buck involved a child in his schemes.

“Holy mackerel, I hit a nerve,” Germain said. “I got a nasty letter back from him that must have been two pages long.”

A warrant for Buck’s arrest was issued on May 25, Muscato said. Buck turned himself in at the Naples Jail Center on Tuesday and was charged with scheming to defraud $50,000 or more.

“He probably was tired of looking over his shoulder,” Muscato said. “He probably realized it wasn’t going away.”

Muscato said that if Buck is unable to pay back his victims in one lump sum he will most likely be put on a payment plan.

“It will take a long, long time, but everybody will get some satisfaction of getting something back,” Muscato said.

Germain, who teaches law at Naples High School, said he hopes everybody gets their money back and that Buck gets a long prison stay.

“He’s hurt 14 different people and families,” Germain said. “I’m a teacher and he took one-eighth of my salary.”

After a major hurricane, crimes such as Buck’s happen frequently, Muscato said. He said people who need repairs after a storm should hire a reputable company. It’s also important to make sure they are licensed.

Licenses in Florida can be verified by visiting www.myflorida.com/dbpr, Muscato said.

“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Muscato said. “Don’t be so anxious to get something repaired. You have to wait sometimes to have things done right.”