The proprietor of Sash & Sill, a window and door firm in Sarasota that shuttered its operations and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last year, has been charged with two felony counts in Charlotte County concerning unfinished work. Todd Hoch, 47, from Nokomis, faces allegations related to “moneys received by contractors,” according to court records.
Authorities assert that Hoch took a deposit of approximately $21,000 from a homeowner in Punta Gorda but failed to commence any work or obtain necessary permits. Similarly, in Port Charlotte, it is claimed that the same situation occurred after a couple made a $12,000 down payment for services.
In the Punta Gorda incident, court records indicate that Hoch collected a deposit of $21,054.50 in March 2024 for a project that included the replacement of windows and doors, which was estimated to exceed $42,000.
An email from Hoch sent on July 10, 2024, informed the homeowner that Sash & Sill would be closing and filing for bankruptcy while committed to completing as many jobs as possible. Subsequently, the homeowner sent certified mail on July 31, 2024, demanding that Hoch “immediately apply for the necessary permits, commence the window installation, or refund the $21,054.50 deposit,” as noted in court documents.
By September 20, 2024, police reported that no permit applications had been filed, Sash & Sill had not initiated the agreed-upon work, nor refunded the deposit. In this case, authorities allege that Hoch breached state law stating that a “contractor who receives funds for repair, restoration, addition, improvement, or construction … may not fail or refuse to perform any work for any 90-day period.” The filed charge is classified as a second-degree felony, according to the police.
In Port Charlotte, it is alleged that Hoch committed a third-degree felony by not adhering to a Florida statute that mandates contractors who collect over 10% of the contract amount to apply for permits within 30 days or to begin their work within 90 days post-permit issuance.
The Port Charlotte couple provided Sash & Sill with a down payment of $12,502.50 for a $25,000 window replacement job at their residence in April 2024, as per investigators. After three months of inactivity, the customers managed to connect with a Sash & Sill representative, who stated that the work would commence in August 2024, according to the affidavit for Hoch’s arrest. This job was to encompass the installation of nine PGT windows and one PGT slider, and company officials provided varying explanations for the delay, including COVID-related supply chain issues and high demand during the busy season.
On July 10, 2024, the couple received an email indicating, “It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Sash & Sill has closed its doors permanently. This difficult decision arises from unforeseen circumstances that have materially affected our financial stability, necessitating our bankruptcy filing.”
Upon contacting Charlotte County and discovering that no permits had been filed for their project, the Port Charlotte couple sent a certified letter requesting a refund on July 15, 2024, but did not receive a response, according to the affidavit. The detective conducting the investigation also determined that Sash & Sill never applied for permits for the couple’s address.
“It is noteworthy that Todd Hoch had 37 complaints filed against him in Sarasota County for accepting payments without completing the work,” the affidavit mentioned in the Port Charlotte case.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office did not promptly respond to inquiries regarding the state of its investigation. The Florida Attorney General’s Office also did not reply; a year ago, it informed the Business Observer that it had received around 50 complaints regarding Sash & Sill and Hoch.
A warrant for Hoch’s arrest concerning the Port Charlotte case was issued in late June 2025, and he was released after posting a $5,000 bond, as recorded in court documents.
Hoch’s arraignment for both the Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda cases is set for August 25 at the Charlotte County Justice Center.
According to his attorney, Hoch intends to plead not guilty to the charges, which was communicated via email to the Business Observer.
In August 2024, Hoch filed for personal bankruptcy, and Sash & Sill filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. That same month, the Sarasota County General Contractors Licensing and Examining Board found Hoch guilty of fraud, abandonment, and accepting payments for construction without applying for permits or commencing work, following a homeowner’s complaint involving a $19,560 deposit for windows and doors that were never delivered. Consequently, Hoch was prohibited from obtaining permits in Sarasota County.
“I want to extend my heartfelt apologies to the customers of Sash & Sill whose projects remain incomplete,” Hoch stated in a prepared release to the Business Observer last August after the Sarasota County board hearing. “It has been the most challenging ordeal of my life. I am genuinely heartbroken.”
This article has been updated to disclose that Todd Hoch’s attorney has indicated his client will plead not guilty to the charges.
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