ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A local construction company is accused of leaving their customers with unfinished projects after collecting tens of thousands of dollars from them.
Customers of CG Consulting and Design say they were promised home improvements but were instead left with incomplete work and little to no communication from the company. One homeowner, David Hochbrueckner, says his backyard renovation, complete with a jacuzzi, fire pit, and summer kitchen, has been stalled for nearly a year and a half.
While walking the I-TEAM through his property, Hochbrueckner pointed out unfinished structures and damage from prolonged exposure to the elements.
“This is supposed to be fully stacked stone with a nice granite top. We’ve got seating on the other side,” Hochbrueckner noted, gesturing to an incomplete outdoor kitchen. “All of this is left incomplete. It’s been exposed for months, and there’s some damage from the weather.”
He says materials and equipment left behind by CG Consulting and Design now clutter his driveway, backyard, and garage.
“We hired the company in October of 2023 with a 6-to-8-week timeline after permits were pulled,” Hochbrueckner explained. “And as you can see, standing here now in February of 2025, it’s three-quarters done. They don’t show, they don’t call, they don’t respond to texts. I can’t get their attention.”
He estimates he has paid about 90% of the project’s cost, which amounts to about $80,000.
CG Consulting and Design responded to the I-TEAM’s inquiry, citing multiple challenges that have impacted their timeline:
- Subcontractor non-performance
- Skilled labor shortages in Jacksonville
- Material availability issues
- Weather and permitting delays
Hochbrueckner believes those explanations are just excuses.
“There’s a lot of money that CG has that we’re probably not going to get back,” he said.
A History of Financial Misconduct
Hochbrueckner was one of four CG Consulting and Design customers who contacted the I-TEAM with similar complaints.
He says Cary Grimm, who he thought owned the company, personally visited his home late last year to ask for more money to complete the project.
Grimm was previously convicted of grand theft for taking money from customers and failing to complete work.
Although current state records indicate Grimm does not own CG Consulting and Design, his wife is listed as the CEO.
“The owner pleaded with me that he was cash-strapped and unable to get the granite, so he asked me to give him a special installment—a payment of $10,000 to take care of the granite and get it installed,” Hochbrueckner recalled. “That was four months ago. And as you can see, it’s still not here.”
When asked if that request was a red flag, Hochbrueckner admitted, “It should have been.”
A spokesperson for CG Consulting and Design told the I-TEAM that Grimm is “only the director of sales and handles no financial documents.” They also stated that the company remains fully committed to completing Hochbrueckner’s project as soon as possible.
According to police, Grimm’s previous grand theft charges stemmed from complaints by 11 customers who met him at the Jacksonville Home and Patio Show. Hochbrueckner says he hired CG Consulting and Design at the same event in 2023.