Posted on: December 22, 2025, 12:56h.
Last updated on: December 22, 2025, 12:56h.
- A man from Bradenton, posing as a contractor, is accused of defrauding mobile home residents of $222K in necessary repairs following Hurricane Milton.
- Authorities discovered some of the down payments were funneled to local arcades operating illegal slot machines.
Authorities in Bradenton, FL, claim that a 54-year-old individual posing as a contractor exploited vulnerable elderly clients aiming to get their mobile homes repaired after the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton.
Hurricane Milton, categorized as a Category 5 storm in October 2024, exhibited sustained winds of 180 mph over the Gulf of Mexico/United States. The most potent tropical cyclone of that year, Milton weakened before making landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Bradenton, just north of Sarasota, faced significant destruction.
The Bradenton Police Department argues that Brian Michaud sought to exploit the situation following the hurricane. Officers allege he impersonated a general contractor to prey on the elderly requiring home repairs.
Police: Contractor Targeted Seniors
According to a 13-count indictment, the Bradenton police claim Michaud collected down payments totaling $222,000 from multiple residents in the Seabreeze Mobile Home Park. Operating under the name RedFin Construction, he signed contracts for several repairs on their mobile homes, which included carport, lanai, roof, and shed repairs.
Detective Michael Carpenter received numerous complaints from residents at Seabreeze. He initiated an investigation, which, through financial subpoenas, revealed that Michaud had spent over $53,000 at casinos and utilized additional funds for personal and recreational expenses.
The RedFin Construction website currently states it is “under maintenance.” An older business card promoted “24-hour disaster recovery” and various residential services, including work on carports and lanais and aluminum structure repairs. Although Michaud’s business claimed to operate as a certified general contractor and roofer, Carpenter notes that the license numbers he provided were linked to another contractor.
Michaud did not complete any of the promised work. While some purchases were made for construction-related materials, they were not used towards fulfilling any of the victims’ projects,” said Carpenter.
Facing 13 felony charges, Michaud includes 10 third-degree offenses for using another contractor’s license number during a state-declared emergency. He also faces charges for scheming to defraud more than $50,000, misappropriating over $100,000 in construction funds, and aggravated white-collar crime against seniors.
Carpenter stated that Michaud’s victims are aged between 62 and 95. He currently remains in Manatee County Jail after being denied bail.
Illegal Slot Arcades
The alleged contractor’s business is reportedly based in a warehouse located on 30th St. W in Bradenton, while RedFin’s operational site is only 2.5 miles east along 44th Ave. W from the Seabreeze community.
Michaud’s business is also situated near several so-called “arcades” that are merely fronts for illegal slot machine operations. The Florida Gaming Control Commission seeks to pressure state lawmakers to enhance penalties for running illegal slot arcades, as current penalties are quite lenient, resulting in only misdemeanor charges.