A St. Augustine contractor, Michael Struhar, was taken into custody this week after authorities say he stole $40,000 from a Palm Coast couple who had hired him to remodel their home.
The Scheme Unfolds
According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the couple wired the money in December 2025 after signing a general service agreement. Struhar appeared only once, painted a single wall, and then vanished, leaving the unfinished renovation and a trail of unanswered calls.
Investigators discovered that the funds were never used for building materials. Bank records showed more than $33,000 moved through Zelle and cash withdrawals that were quickly funneled to an online auction site where Struhar purchased signed baseball cards, a hobby he had previously mentioned to his ex‑wife.
The financial trail left the account overdrawn by the end of the month and the balance remained negative for months afterward. Detectives presented the case to the State Attorney’s Office, which secured an arrest warrant and a $50,000 bond.
Sheriff Rick Staly used the arrest to warn contractors across Flagler County about the consequences of fraud, while the sheriff’s office urged anyone who believes they have been victimized by Struhar or his company to contact the non‑emergency line at 386‑313‑4911. The investigation remains open, and officials say additional victims may yet emerge.