CLERMONT, Florida—A man who pleaded guilty to several counts of contracting without a license, grand theft, and failure to obtain workers compensation insurance in Pasco County early this month was served with a Lake County warrant Friday while serving his sentence, charging him with two of the same crimes.
Eric Lee Manning, of Dade City, was served with the warrant for contracting without a license and grand theft just two days before his 34th birthday after being accused of swindling a Clermont woman out of more than $4,000 dollars in 2021, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Manning is alleged to have provided the victim with a $6,700 estimate for a screen enclosure and aluminum roof for a back patio. The woman gave Manning a check for $3,350 for materials and four days later, while completing a small job, he told the woman he needed an additional $1,000 and she wrote him a second check, the affidavit states.
Ten days later, Manning asked for another $1,200 and the victim told him she was not comfortable giving him more money. For more than a month, the victim was unable to reach Manning and after finally reaching him, he told her the materials were backordered. Nearly two weeks later on July 19, 2021, the victim contacted the company Manning said he ordered from, and they informed the victim the materials were never ordered, according to the affidavit.
Manning stopped answering calls and text messages and was arrested by Pasco County Sheriff’s Office on July 21. Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies found he was not licensed after doing an online search with the Department of Business and Professional Regulations, Manning was positively identified and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
