Dozens arrested in unlicensed contracting sting on Clearwater Beach, officials say
Dozens of people have been arrested in a crackdown on unlicensed contracting in Clearwater Beach as residents work to rebuild after hurricanes Helene and Milton, law enforcement officials announced Thursday.
In an undercover investigation over two days, 38 people were arrested on about 45 charges, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said in a news conference with Clearwater police Chief Eric Gandy. Because the community is still under a state of emergency, the sheriff said, all of the charges are felonies.
"By the time we're done, we'll be well over 40 (arrests)," he said.
The arrests come two weeks after a similar sting in Madeira Beach netted 45 arrests. In the latest investigation, undercover detectives from the sheriff's office and the Clearwater Police Department were "visited by people who held themselves out to be licensed contractors, able and qualified to do plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, roofing and other structural work," Gualtieri said.
During the operation, unlicensed contractors offered to do over 15 types of construction projects totaling more than $100,000, Gualtieri said. The sheriff noted that 25 of the people arrested were not Pinellas County residents. At least six were not U.S. citizens, and one was under deportation proceedings.
Gualtieri said the licensing process shows that contractors have the proper education, training and skills to do the work. Many of the people arrested had "extensive" criminal histories for charges including robbery, theft, burglary and drug trafficking, he added.
"By engaging in this unlicensed contracting, these felons avoid the whole vetting process that licensing provides and the assurances it brings to consumers as to who they're bringing into their homes and businesses to do this important work," he said.
The sheriff warned that unlicensed contractors who target Pinellas County residents will go to jail.
"People need to be able to rebuild, restore their lives, and we're going to do all we can to help them do that without being double victimized as hurricane victims and victims of scammers and thieves," he said.
Tips for picking a contractor
Under state and local law, any contractor you hire must be state-certified or licensed. Officials say that properly licensed, experienced contractors will provide safer, higher-quality services.
Pinellas County officials advise property owners to beware of any contractor who:
Cannot provide a state license number;
Asks you to obtain the building permit as an "owner/builder," or claims you will save money by not obtaining a permit;
Asks to be paid in cash or asks for large payments upfront.
Unlicensed contractors do not have insurance coverage, so any injury that occurs on your property will be a claim against you and your insurance.
Find more guidance from Pinellas County's Building Services Department on how to choose a contractor here.
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