Tampa, Florida: 50 Arrested in Undercover Sting on Unlicensed Contractors

Fifty people were arrested in Hillsborough County, Florida after a four month undercover investigation into unlicensed contracting, Sheriff Chad Chronister announced at a press conference on Thursday, Oct. 22. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office called the effort Operation Bad Builder. Detectives posed as homeowners, asked for quotes on work that requires a Florida license, and arrested people who offered to do the work without one. The 50 arrests came out of the investigation. They were not 50 separate arrests made on Thursday.

How the sting worked

Undercover detectives secured a location in Riverview and posed as residents seeking home repairs, FOX 13 Tampa Bay reported. Between June 1 and Oct. 2, investigators responded to online advertisements, including postings from people who had already been reported for incomplete or poorly executed work. The sheriff's office said detectives also worked from resident tips, social media ads and undercover meetings to identify suspects. The work on offer included roofing, electrical, plumbing and heating and air conditioning jobs, the kind of work Florida law reserves for licensed contractors.

What deputies say they found

Investigators said several of the people arrested hold extensive criminal records. One man agreed to perform plumbing and electrical work without a license and quoted $2,500 to install plumbing, rewire and move an outlet, and install overhead lights, demanding a $1,000 deposit up front. The sheriff's office said that man had previously been arrested in June for domestic battery by strangulation. Another suspect had a criminal history that included kidnapping, sexual battery, robbery, drug charges and assault with a deadly weapon on a government official. Calvin Wilson quoted $14,000 for heating and air conditioning work, with half required up front. The sheriff's office said Wilson had previously been arrested for the same offense in Pinellas County and is a convicted felon with a record that includes robbery, grand theft and aggravated battery. Authorities also said 18 of the people arrested are in the country illegally. An arrest is an allegation, and the people arrested are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Why deputies say it matters in Tampa Bay

Demand for construction work stays high across Florida as Hillsborough County residents keep trying to rebuild after back to back hurricanes, FOX 13 reported. Unlicensed operators often pitch an immediate start, with no permit delays and no inspection process, to win the job. Sheriff Chronister said the concern is not only paperwork. In the sheriff's office release, he said workers without a license and training can put families in danger when they touch wiring, roofs or a home foundation. Deputies said unlicensed work also leaves families with safety hazards, unfinished projects, building code violations, weak insurance coverage and, in some cases, empty bank accounts. The sheriff's office has not disclosed a total damage estimate from the complaints filed before the sting.

What homeowners should do before hiring

The sheriff's office urges residents to be cautious with ads on social media and online marketplaces. Verify a contractor license before any work starts. Residents can check a license at MyFloridaLicense.com, and licensed contractors will show their credentials on request. Ask for proof of insurance, get every agreement in writing, collect more than one estimate, and never pay the full amount up front. Anyone who believes an unlicensed contractor victimized them can contact Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office detectives at 813-247-8200.