Orange City, FL - A Winter Garden man accused of ripping off several unsuspecting customers in the past two years has been arrested on allegations that he stole $3,000 from an Orange City-area woman.
Richard James Rokowski was arrested on Thursday in Seminole County and charged with obtaining property by fraud and grand theft. He's in the Volusia County Jail with a bond of $15,000.
Investigators say that Rokowski met the woman at her Orange City-area home, making a verbal agreement with her that he would install carpet in her home. According to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, Rokowski told the woman he would need $3,000 to purchase needed supplies and gave her a receipt.
Nine days later, the woman contacted the company Rokowski said was his supplier. She discovered there were no records found under Rokowski or the receipt order number. The woman then contacted Rokowski, who stalled her until she could no longer reach him.
The detective assigned to the woman's case found that this was not the first time Rokowski had been accused of fleecing someone. There were six previous cases dating back to May 2016 in which Rokowski was accused of the same crime. Those cases were reported by law enforcement agencies in Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
Detective Cameron Tucker is asking anyone who may have had dealings with Rokowski contact him at 386-668-3830 or email at CTucker@vcso.us
