Crime Lakewood Ranch contractor accused of $50K renovation theft, records show By Michael Moore Jr. August 14, 2026 5:50 AM A Lakewood Ranch business owner is accused of taking thousands from a pair of Manatee County homeowners for a renovation project they say she never completed. Kimberly Marie Courie, 51, is facing a second-degree felony charge of grand theft after investigators say a couple paid her more than $50,000 to expand the lanai at their Sarasota home, only for the project to never get off the ground. If convicted, Courie faces up to 15 years in prison, 15 years of probation and a fine up to $10,000 under Florida law . An attorney representing Courie did not immediately respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment. Lakewood Ranch contractor charged with grand theft According to an arrest report, the couple hired Courie’s company, Architectural Intermezzo Corporation, in 2024 to handle the expansion and began making payments for the project. Over the next several months, investigators say the homeowner wrote seven checks ranging from $450 to more than $32,000. In all, detectives say $50,375 went directly into Architectural Intermezzo’s bank account. But investigators say Courie never did the work or even applied for a building permit. After more than a year without the project being completed, the homeowner asked for his money back. But a refund never came. Investigators say Courie instead gave him “numerous excuses,” leading him to report the case to the sheriff’s office. Manatee County detectives investigated the complaint and confirmed through bank records that all seven checks had been deposited into the business’s account. They also concluded that Courie “never conducted the work that was paid for,” leaving the homeowners short more than $50,000, according to an arrest report. Civil lawsuit alleges contractor stole over $140,000 But the homeowners say they actually lost far more on the project. In a civil lawsuit filed against Courie and Architectural Intermezzo, the homeowners say they paid a total of $140,065.45 for the renovation, including money sent to other secondary businesses and subcontractors coordinated and overseen by Courie. The lawsuit alleges that Courie and her business “engaged in unfair or deceptive acts or practices by accepting substantial payments” from them for services, materials and work that was not delivered. “Defendants failed to perform any meaningful work, failed to deliver materials or products and provided no value in return,” the lawsuit alleges. Before suing, the homeowners’ attorney sent Courie a letter demanding the return of the money. The letter warned that they could seek three times their losses under Florida’s civil theft law if the money was not returned, court records show. The homeowners said they are seeking over $420,000 under that claim, along with other damages and legal costs, according to court records. Manatee County contractor faced previous charges Courie previously faced similar accusations in Sarasota County. Court records show she was charged in two cases with doing contracting work without the required certification and later came to an agreement with prosecutors to pay a combined $30,000 in restitution. In doing so, both misdemeanor charges were dropped. Courie and Architectural Intermezzo were also sued by a pair of Sarasota County homeowners in 2023 over another home construction dispute where she was accused of taking money for work that was not completed. Court records show the case was settled for an undisclosed amount in early 2025. Deputies arrested Courie and booked her into the Manatee County jail on Aug. 3, before she was released the following day after posting a $5,000 bond, according to jail records. She has since pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. Courie is scheduled to be arraigned before Circuit Judge D. Ryan Felix on Sept. 18, according to court records. Michael Moore Jr. Bradenton Herald Email this person Michael Moore Jr. is the public safety and justice reporter for the Bradenton Herald. He covers crime, courts and law enforcement. Michael grew up in Bradenton and graduated from University of South Florida St. Petersburg.
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