Contractor Accused Of Scamming Sandy Victims Arrested In Florida

SOUTH AMBOY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A contractor accused of scamming Superstorm Sandy victims has been caught.

Police picked up Richard Woodard last week in Florida.

Woodard allegedly took hundreds of thousands of dollars from at least 7 people, among them 61-year-old Mary Lou Mickiewicz of South Amboy.

She said she gave him more than $100,000 to raise her home after Sandy, but he never finished the work.

"Unfortunately I gave him the money. I wasn't thinking very well. I gave him about $137,000," Mary Lou told CBS2's Steve Langford back in March.

The elevation job never happened, and Woodard disappeared last year. Mickiewicz said he stopped returning her calls.

In March, CBS2 tracked him down at his office in Florida.

He claimed the work is complete, but wouldn't agree to go on air. He denied getting over $100,000 from Mickiewicz and said he's no longer in business.

New Jersey prosecutors have started proceedings to extradite Woodard to answer these accusations.