Categories: U.S.

Oklahoma suspect allegedly solicited $30K from Hurricane Ian victim, fled Florida: police

close Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for September 5

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what’s clicking on Foxnews.com.

An Oklahoma man was arrested after allegedly stealing $30,000 from a Florida homeowner while he posed as a licensed contractor, police say.

Michael Shannon Key was charged with unlicensed contracting during a state of emergency and grand theft. He is accused of stealing money from at least one resident of Fort Myers, Florida, after Hurricane Ian last year.

Fort Myers Police Department says that Key solicited mold removal services to local residents without proper state licensing. The suspect arrived in the city shortly after the hurricane.

Key also allegedly fled to his home state after he was given a huge payment.

OKLAHOMA TEENAGER KILLED IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME SHOOTING, MULTIPLE OTHERS WOUNDED

Michael Shannon Key was charged with unlicensed contracting during a state of emergency and grand theft.  (Fort Myers Police Department)

“Key took a thirty-thousand-dollar payment from at least one resident of Fort Myers to fix their hurricane-flood-damaged home, then fled the state to his hometown [sic] of Oklahoma,” Fort Myers Police Department said in a statement.

“Key has a record of unlicensed contracting, fraud, and embezzlement,” police added.

MULTIPLE VICTIMS IN SHOOTING AT OKLAHOMA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME: POLICE

Fort Myers Beach in Florida sustains floodwaters from Hurricane Idalia as the storm makes its way up the Gulf of Mexico and prepares to make landfall in Florida’s northern peninsula, Aug. 29, 2023. (Dane Owens)

Key was arrested and booked into Tulsa County Jail. He will eventually be extradited to Lee County, Florida.

Police are searching for anyone who may have been victimized by Key or who have paid him for a contracted service. Authorities ask anyone with relevant information to call them at 239-321-7700.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Fort Meyers Police Department is actively investigating the incident. (Fort Meyers Police Department)

Fort Meyers Police Department is actively investigating the incident. No other details are available at this time.

Share

Recent Posts

1 billion identity records exposed in ID verification data leak

Things like your name, home address, date of birth and even your Social Security number…

2 months ago

Android fixes 129 security flaws in major phone update

Most people never think about Android security updates until a headline like this appears. Suddenly,…

2 months ago

Burger King AI listens to workers

The next time you pull up to the drive-thru at Burger King, you may notice…

2 months ago

Fake Google Gemini AI pushes ‘Google Coin’ crypto scam

You may think you can spot a crypto scam from a mile away. But what…

2 months ago

Tesla builds a car with no steering wheel. Now what?

The first Tesla Cybercab has officially rolled off the floor at Tesla Gigafactory Texas. And…

2 months ago

Meta smart glasses privacy concerns grow

Smart glasses promise a future where technology blends into everyday life. You can ask a…

2 months ago