BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — A Boca Raton man was arrested this week in connection with a contractor payment dispute that investigators say involved money paid for work that never began and was not fully returned.
Paulo Almeida Rocha, 63, was booked into the Palm Beach County Main Detention Center on Jan. 15, 2026, according to jail records. He is charged under a Florida statute that applies to certain contractor-related payment cases. His bond was set at $10,000.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the case stems from a complaint made last year by a Delray Beach homeowner who reported paying Rocha several thousand dollars for work at a private residence.
The homeowner told investigators that Rocha was paid $4,300 for the job, but that the work never started. Before any construction began, the homeowner required Rocha to provide proper credentials and proof of permitting, documents that investigators say were never produced.
After several weeks, Rocha allegedly declined to proceed with the work. The homeowner then asked for a refund, according to the affidavit. Rocha returned $1,500 but did not repay the remaining balance, investigators wrote.
The affidavit states that after the partial refund, the homeowner made repeated attempts to contact Rocha by phone and text message but stopped receiving responses. Investigators also cited text messages in which Rocha acknowledged that the job had not been started and that he was no longer moving forward with the work. As part of the process, the homeowner was instructed to send a certified letter giving Rocha 30 days to return the remaining money before further action could be taken. Investigators wrote that the letter was sent and received. When the remaining balance was not repaid after the 30-day period, the case was forwarded for criminal review.
Investigators concluded there was probable cause to pursue a charge under Florida law, which allows criminal intent to be inferred when contractor payments are not returned within the required timeframe. A warrant was signed in December 2025. Rocha was taken into custody in January and appeared before a judge for a first appearance hearing the day after his arrest.
Court records show Rocha was present and in custody at that hearing. In addition to bond being set, the court issued a no-contact order related to the alleged victim. Rocha was also found indigent for purposes of legal representation, triggering the appointment process for a public defender and a $50 application fee.
Additional court dates have already been scheduled, including return hearings and an initial case conference later this spring. The case will move forward through the Palm Beach County court system, where prosecutors will be required to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
Boca Post also searched the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation’s public license database for Rocha and was not able to locate a matching contractor license listing at the time of the search.
As with any criminal case, the allegations outlined in arrest and court documents are claims made by investigators and have not been proven in court.
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