A landscaping dispute that began after Hurricane Ian has turned into a criminal case in Naples, where police say a man threatened members of a family who had hired him years earlier to repair their property.
Naples Police identified the landscaper as Christopher Cueva and said the family hired him in 2022 after the hurricane damaged their yard.
Police said Cueva began the job but then disappeared for about six months, leaving work unfinished. The family withheld part of the payment they had originally agreed to make.
Years later, police say the dispute escalated dramatically.
Money Demands
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In September 2026, Cueva allegedly began demanding $100,000 from the family while sending what police described as life-threatening messages.
The threats were made in person and through text messages and social media accounts, according to the department.
Gulf Coast News reported, citing the Naples Police arrest report, that officers responded after family members said Cueva had begun calling them and demanding additional money.
Officers listened to several voicemails that contained threats, the report said. In one, Cueva allegedly warned the family that they were “running out” of time. In another, he asked whether they wanted to “go to war.”
The arrest report also described a social media video recorded outside one victim’s home. Cueva allegedly identified members of the family and threatened to surround the house with box trucks if he was not paid.
Fear Escalates
A WINK News report said police described three family members as victims, including two people older than 65.
The station reported that Cueva had given the family roughly 12 hours to turn over the $100,000.
Naples Police told WINK that the family was genuinely afraid for their safety as the messages continued and Cueva allegedly appeared at a family business and outside one of their homes.
The criminal allegations are accusations, not findings of guilt.
Taken Into Custody
Naples Police said detectives located Cueva on Oct. 8 with assistance from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
He was taken to the Naples Jail Center and booked on charges of written or electronic threats to kill or cause bodily injury, stalking or cyberstalking, and assault on people 65 or older.
The department said in its Oct. 9 release that Cueva remained in custody at the Naples Jail Center.
Police also encouraged anyone who believes they are being threatened or pressured for money in connection with contracting or repair work to contact the department.