HIALEAH, Fla. — An 84-year-old woman in Hialeah trusted Lazaro Marquetti, gave him $11,500, and police officers, prosecutors, and state investigators had to get involved after she realized he had lied, records show.
The victim first gave Marquetti, 31, a $3,500 deposit on Oct. 28, 2024, and he committed to begin “the process of demolition and permit applications,” according to a Hialeah police officer’s arrest report.
The 84-year-old victim used checks to pay Marquetti’s construction company $3,500 more on Nov. 28, 2024, and $4,500 more on March 2, 2025, according to the police officer’s arrest report.
“Checks referenced demolition services and preparation of plans for construction work at the residence,” a police officer wrote, according to an arrest report.
The victim’s daughter started to suspect Marquetti, an unlicensed contractor, had defrauded her mother after a visit to City Hall to check on the status of the permit application on April 2, according to police.
Miguel Valecillos, operating under VPG Construction Management, had submitted a permit application on behalf of Marquetti, and there was “a permit fee request dated Jan. 21, 2025, but it “remained unpaid,” so “the permit process was not completed,” a police officer wrote, according to the arrest report.
The victim’s daughter asked Marquetti for a refund.
“Mr. Marquetti offered to return $7,000 from a total of $11,500 previously provided, on condition they sign a legal document stating they would not pursue civil action against him,” a police officer wrote, according to the arrest report.
The victim’s daughter went to the Hialeah Police Department’s station, filed a fraud report on April 15, 2025, and reported Marquetti “may have engaged in similar conduct previously with other victims,” according to the police arrest report.
The victim’s caretaker also filed a complaint with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation after learning that Marquetti was not a licensed contractor, according to police.
“I received the case file from DBPR investigator Mark Terrill, where he provided all the documentation, he received during the course of his investigation, which was authored on March 2,” a detective wrote, according to the police report. “This case file was provided approximately 11 months after the initial report.”
The detective reported Marquetti used online advertising to promote home renovations, demolition services, and roofing services, according to a police report.
The detective reported detaining Marquetti on Wednesday afternoon at his home and questioning him at the Hialeah Police Department’s headquarters.
“Marquetti began to state it was his business partner’s fault,” a detective wrote, according to the arrest report, adding, “This is the second time Mr. Marquetti has been arrested within the past six months for contracting without a license.”
The detective cited a case with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Court records show Monroe prosecutors filed a case against Marquetti on Oct. 22 on a first violation of engaging in contracting business without certification, and a jury found him not guilty on Feb. 24.
In Miami-Dade County, Marquetti faced a new felony charge of organized scheme to defraud and a misdemeanor charge of unlicensed contracting. His bond was $3,000.
Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Zachary N. James was set to preside over the case.
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 to remain anonymous.
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