Berkley man charged with stealing money for unfinished work in Florida

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (WLNE) — A Berkley, Massachusetts man is facing a lengthy list of charges for allegedly portraying himself as a contractor without the proper license and then ripping off homeowners in Florida.

Lal Diegidio, 62, of Berkley, had seven separate felony cases filed against him last week in Palm Beach County Court.

The charges included engaging in contracting without certification, failing to secure workers’ compensation insurance, and grand theft.

In one of the cases, detectives with the Florida Department of Financial Services alleged Diegidio collected $23,900 in payments for construction work at a 79-year-old woman’s home in Boca Raton, but never completed the work.

The victim told police she had entered into a contract to have Diegidio complete a bathroom renovation in 2021.

Police contacted Diegidio in February 2022, according to charging documents.

Diegidio spoke with a detective, according to charging documents, and stated that he didn’t refund victims in multiple cases because he had used some of the money to finish other projects.

According to police, he also said that he was in Ohio for prostate cancer treatment, but could not recall the name of his doctor.

Police said Diegidio agreed to meet with detectives when he returned to Florida the following week, but never did.

According to an affidavit, police reviewed state records and found that Diegidio never had a current or active license as a construction contractor in Florida.

According to charging documents, Diegidio deposited a check from the incomplete Boca Raton job into an account that he would later withdraw from at a casino in Coconut Creek, Florida.

Prosecutors alleged that Diegidio was never in Ohio for cancer treatment, but rather returned to Berkley, Massachusetts in late 2021.

Police alleged Diegidio made up repeated excuses for failing to finish a different Boca Raton job, including that necessary items were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that his car broke down, and that he hurt his ankle.

Police said Diegidio was previously charged by Jupiter, Florida police with grand theft of monies received by a contractor and engaging in contracting without a certification in 2008.

According to an affidavit, records showed Diegidio was also charged in 2008 by North Palm Beach, Florida police with grand theft, engaging in contracting without a certificate, and working without a permit.

The affidavit also said Diegidio pled guilty to a third-degree felony in relation to the 2008 charges.

Diegidio pled not guilty to charges in six of the seven new cases on Monday, court records show.

There was no plea listed in the seventh case.

Diegidio is due back in court in Florida on Oct. 9.