Grace McAlister
Reporter1@riverbendnews.org
On Friday, March 17, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a complainant who wanted to report that Michael Trail, the owner of M&M Cabinets, cheated him out of $3725. The complainant stated he paid Trail in December 2022 the cost of materials to build cabinets for him. The agreement was for the cabinets to be installed in January 2023. The complainant contacted Trail in January to ask about the cabinets and was told by Trail that there was an issue when he ordered the wood. The complainant contacted Trail at the end of January when they still had not heard from Trail and was told the cabinets would be delivered that day.
When the cabinets did not arrive, the complainant was told by Trail he had a flat tire and could not make it. Trail sent the complainant a picture of a flat tire on a trailer. The complainant stated they called every week since and was given a different reason as to why the cabinets could not be delivered, including another flat tire and crash. The second flat tire image Trail sent matched the first flat tire picture he sent. Trail sent a receipt of a flat tire stating he purchased the tire in Georgia but inspection of the receipt showed it was purchased in Branford, which further illustrated Trail was not truthful with the complainant. When the complainant told Trail he would just come get his money back, Trail told him he would have law enforcement remove him. Trail then blocked the complainant’s phone number.
This is the second person that has reported such a similar incident to the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office. The other incident was reported in February 2022. Trail paid this complainant back after he was contacted by law enforcement.
Due to multiple alleged victims and the deception from Trail, he is being charged with Florida Statute 817.29 of Cheating.
If you have been a victim of a similar incident, please contact the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office at (386) 294-1222.