Police launch fraud investigation into Central Florida fence company

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A Central Florida fence company is under investigation for allegations of consumer fraud by the St. Cloud Police Department.

Customers of Fences FL PG contacted Channel 9's Angela Jacobs to complain that the owner of the company took thousands of dollars in deposits last summer, but never built the fences.

Customers told Eyewitness News that Carlos Ardila cashed their checks immediately and when customers demanded a refund, they were given the runaround.

The customers have filed complaints with the Florida Attorney General’s Office after Ardila filed for bankruptcy and kept collecting customers’ deposits.

“We're all hard working people, and just to see this person is doing this to so many people. If this can help somebody and at least make him stop doing what he's doing, I'll be more than happy,” customer Manny Gonzales said.

Gonzales said Ardila took his $3,850 deposit, but didn’t do the fence work.

Ardila told Eyewitness News last month that this was all a misunderstanding before he referred Eyewitness News to his lawyer. Ardila did not return Eyewitness News phone calls Monday.

If anyone believes they were affected by Fences FL PG, they've been asked to contacted St. Cloud Police Dept. Det. Pete Szlezak at 407-891-6727 or pszlezak@stcloud.org.

Cox Media Group