The Charlotte County Construction Industry Licensing Board voted to suspend local permitting privileges for multiple contractors on allegations they failed to renew and obtain final inspections for expired permits, and directed staff to forward case files to state and regional regulators.

Board action addressed several discipline cases after staff investigators presented notice and final-permit reviews documenting expired permits. The board approved staff recommendations by voice vote and ordered copies of cases and board orders forwarded to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board for potential further discipline.

The matters arose from notices of administrative proceedings prepared and mailed in accordance with Florida statute and county ordinance. Ken Garcia, contractor licensing investigator, testified in one case that his final permit review of a company doing business as Blackstone Builders Inc. found four expired permits. “It is the recommendation of the Charlotte County Licensing Division [that] Ricardo Prieto’s permitting privileges and right to work as a contractor in Charlotte County be suspended,” Garcia said. The board then closed the public portion and, on a motion by Christopher Knight, approved the staff recommendation by voice vote.

Tom Atkinson, contractor licensing investigator, presented a similar recommendation in a separate matter concerning a second company associated with Ricardo Prieto (doing business as Hero Construction Group, Inc.). Atkinson said his final review found one expired permit and recommended suspension of permitting privileges and referral to state regulators; the board approved the recommendation.

Atkinson also presented a case involving Carla Guevara of Family First Roofing Group, LLC. His initial recommendation asked that Guevara’s permitting privileges be suspended, that listed permits be renewed within 30 days, and that final inspections be obtained within six months per the Florida Building Code. The board later reopened that item to amend the recommendation: after discussion and a motion to reconsider, the board adopted an amended staff recommendation to suspend permitting privileges indefinitely and forward the case to the state board for possible revocation of the state roofing license if the FCILB orders are not complied with. Atkinson summarized the revised recommendation: “It is the recommendation of the Charlotte County Licensing Division [that] Ms. Carla Guevara’s permitting privileges and right to work as a contractor in Charlotte County be suspended,” and the board approved the change.

Other cases approved during the discipline docket included:
- Miguel Cabos (HD Development and Construction, LLC): Atkinson reported five expired permits and two permits listed as expired but not issued; staff recommended suspension of permitting privileges and referral to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board. The board approved the recommendation.
- Jason Newman (RH Screen LLC): Investigator Daryl Dillo reported 11 expired permits and recommended suspension and referral; the board approved the recommendation.

Board members asked clarifying questions about time frames stated in staff recommendations. Several members — including Michael LaPorta and others — expressed concern with language in staff recommendations that required compliance “in a timely manner.” LaPorta and other board members urged clearer time limits for compliance, noting some permits dated to 2022–23. Staff and board counsel explained that the county board’s authority primarily affects local permitting privileges and that time frames for further action (including any statewide license discipline) would be established by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board if it acts on the county’s referral.

Procedural notes recorded in the meeting: one citation (affidavit number 17 for Anthony Frank Montoya) was removed from the list after Montoya paid the related fine; one discipline matter involving Lino Servino (DBA Focus Builders, CIL2500007) was continued. The board swore in witnesses before hearings and unanimously approved routine motions to close the public portion before taking votes.

After the discipline docket, Sean Horton, code licensing manager, reported licensing-division statistics and staffing updates; Ben Bailey, community development director, updated the board on permitting turnaround times and post-storm rebuild permitting. The board adjourned after hearing the licensing and building reports.

Because the board’s actions were taken by voice vote during a public meeting and no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript, the approvals are recorded here as board actions taken following staff recommendations and voice votes; staff forwarded the listed cases to state regulators for potential further discipline per the county’s recommended orders.