VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A local contractor is on felony probation on Wednesday night after taking thousands of dollars from a Volusia County couple but never starting their kitchen renovation.
Another couple has come forward, saying Jeffrie Diaz ran off with their money and never finished their home.
When Alicia Silvestri walks through her still unfinished home, she reflects on what could have and should have been completed by now.
“It has been a complete nightmare to our family,” Silvestri said. “It has depleted us of money. It has put us in financial strain.”
She says the nightmare began when they hired Triple D Paint Home Improvements, owned by 40-year-old Jeffrey Diaz, in December 2021.
Diaz is now on 3-year felony probation for contract permit fraud.
Ten months after starting the Silvestris’ project, Diaz was arrested for taking $12,000 from another couple and never starting their kitchen renovation, according to court records.
“I’m glad that he’s finally in some sort of trouble, finally,” Alicia said.
The Silvestris hired Diaz to renovate their home with an estimate of $229,000.
Over the following months, they say they paid him more than $150,000.
Diaz started the job but never finished, the couple said.
“Frustrated, angry, we feel very cheated,” Silvestri said.
News 6 received a tip that Diaz is still working in the area. News 6 visited a job site where work appeared to be on going but got no answer.
“At first it was almost like we were kind of happy for him to be working because it meant that he would have a chance of paying us back,” Alicia said.
The Silvestris sued Diaz, went to mediation, and obtained a judgment against him and his company for $140,000.
Diaz was ordered to pay $1,500 a month but paid back about $12,000 before stopping.
News 6 also went to Diaz’s home. There were several vehicles in the driveway, but with a ring camera at the door and a microphone in hand, we got no answer.
The Silvestris want others to be aware.
“I feel that he needs to be made known for what he’s been doing to people at this point,” Alicia said.