CLEARWATER, Fla. — Greater than three dozen unlicensed contractors have been arrested and charged after a two-day undercover operation by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Workplace, Clearwater Police Division, and different companies.
In accordance with Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the arrests have been made to guard individuals from being ripped off and from the risks of shoddy, unlicensed work.
“The vast majority of ‘em — they’re not even from right here,” he mentioned. “They’re coming in from exterior the world to use our residents and our companies.”
It’s not even the primary time he’s locked up unlicensed contractors for the reason that storms. His staff arrested dozens extra in Madeira Seashore two weeks in the past.
“As they might say, sadly, it’s taking pictures fish in a barrel. There’s a lot of it on the market, it’s not onerous,” the sheriff mentioned.
In accordance with Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy, one of many unlicensed staff arrested in the latest bust was making ready to do a $200,000 job.
Gualtieri mentioned one other was promoting demolition work however really doing electrical work too.
The sheriff mentioned the variety of arrests within the Clearwater bust will doubtless exceed 40. He mentioned six of the 38 arrested to date are undocumented immigrants, and one of many six was within the means of being deported on the time of his arrest.
You possibly can confirm a license by visiting www.pinellas.gov/contractor. You can even name the county’s Shopper Safety division at 727-464-6200.
