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 businesses.
In response to Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the arrests have been made to guard folks from being ripped off and from the hazards 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 workforce arrested dozens extra in Madeira Seashore two weeks in the past.
“As they’d say, sadly, it’s capturing fish in a barrel. There’s a lot of it on the market, it’s not arduous,” the sheriff mentioned.
In response to Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy, one of many unlicensed employees 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 possible exceed 40. He mentioned six of the 38 arrested to date are undocumented immigrants, and one of many six was within the technique 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 Client Safety division at 727-464-6200.
