BISCAYNE PARK, Fla. — Authorities say a 75-year-old Biscayne Park woman lost more than $243,000 to a contractor whom she hired to perform home construction work. That contractor is now facing three felony charges.

According to the Biscayne Park Police Department, the victim hired Eric Bartholomew Brown, 66, of Miami Shores, in November 2021 and agreed to an $87,600 contract to have work done on the pool house at her home on Griffing Boulevard.

State records show Brown is a licensed contractor who runs a company called ROI Construction LLC.

A BPPD arrest report states that Brown “demanded payment for work not performed” and sent an electrician who did shoddy work.

“Multiple electrical components began to malfunction, including shorts, improper lighting function and an issue with her refrigerator,” the report states.

Authorities said not only did the electrician routinely arrive late ― he “installed the electrical panel upside down.”

Police said Brown lied about who the electrician was working under and did roof truss work that was not up to code. A village inspector, they said, noted “that columns were missing, tie beams were not properly secured and the trusses were not the proper size.”

According to police, the victim told investigators that in 2023, “Brown told her he would bite the bullet and purchase the roof trusses, notwithstanding (her) assertion that she had already paid for them and that Brown had not paid the truss company,” saying that Brown requested an additional $4,000 “for plumbing work for which she had already paid.”

Authorities said he later claimed a $52,000 shortfall and while she didn’t make the payment, he later pressured her for payment and she gave him a $25,200 check.

The victim said she “possesses written statements from Brown in which he agreed to repay her” but he’s failed to do so and did not respond to a letter demanding payment, according to the arrest report.

Brown, police said, “sent her a letter in which he allegedly attempted to extort additional payments for items not included in the contract.”

According to the report, the $243,000 figure includes “claimed liquidated damages under the contract.”

Authorities arrested Brown on Thursday on a contractor fraud charge, as well as charges of first-degree grand theft and elderly exploitation.

Court records show a Miami-Dade judge found probable cause for the charges and he was later released from jail on a $22,500 bond.

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