WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A Pennsylvania man with an extensive history of fraudulent business practices was arrested in Brevard County on a Polk County warrant, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities arrested 55-year-old Patrick Gorman on Sunday as a result of an investigation the sheriff's office started on Thursday, Jan. 18. He will be brought back to Polk County and face multiple second and third-degree felonies including burglary of an occupied dwelling, exploitation of the elderly and grand theft.
According to the agency, the investigation began after a relative of an elderly man in Auburndale noticed three personal checks were written out to Gorman, totaling $24,550.
In a news release, the relative said Gorman came into the elderly man's house uninvited and claimed that he fixed an alleged hole in the roof of the house. He reportedly asked for $8,750 for the work. The elder resident paid him because he "didn't know what to do."
All three of the checks contained Gorman’s Pennsylvania driver’s license number.
According to deputies, no roof repair was found besides some white coating spread on a small part of the roof. They were also told by a roofing expert nothing was wrong with the roof.
“The victim’s family has done a great job caring for him and had taken precautions to keep him safe," Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "Unfortunately, bad guys can always find a way to do bad things. Our hope is that this bad guy gets locked-up for a lengthy time, so he’s unable to take advantage of anyone else.”
The sheriff's office reports that Gorman has a history of fraud business practices in Florida, Maryland, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
Detectives believe there may be other victims in Polk County. If you or anyone you know may have been affected, contact Detective Wright at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit at 863-292-3300.
