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 said Thursday.

In a two-day undercover investigation, 38 people were arrested on about 45 charges, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said at a news conference with Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy. Because the community is still under a state of emergency, the sheriff said, all charges are felonies.

“By the time we’re done, we’ll be over 40 (arrests),” he said.

The arrests take place two weeks after a similar sting in Madeira Beach recorded 45 arrests. In the most recent investigation, undercover detectives from the Sheriff’s Office and the Clearwater Police Department were “visited by people claiming to be licensed contractors capable and qualified to do plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, roofing and other structural works”, Gualtieri. said.

During the operation, the unlicensed contractors offered to do more than 15 types of construction projects totaling more than $100,000, Gualtieri said. The sheriff noted that 25 of the people arrested were not residents of Pinellas County. At least six were not US citizens, and one was being deported.

Gualtieri said the licensing process shows contractors have the proper education, training and skills to do the job. Many of the people arrested had “extensive” criminal records for charges including robbery, theft, burglary and drug trafficking, he added.

“By engaging in this unlicensed contracting, these criminals avoid the entire vetting process that licenses provide and the assurances they provide to consumers about who they bring 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, rebuild their lives, and we’re going to do everything we can to help them do that without being double victimized as victims of hurricanes and victims of crooks and thieves,” said he.

Tips for choosing a contractor

According to state and local law, any contractor you hire must be state certified or licensed. Officials say properly licensed and experienced contractors will provide safer and higher quality service.

Pinellas County officials advise property owners to beware of any contractor who:

• A state license number cannot be provided;
• Asks you to get a building permit as an “owner/builder” or claims that you will save money by not getting a permit;
• Asks to be paid in cash or asks for large payments in advance.

Unlicensed contractors do not have insurance coverage, so any damage that occurs to your property will be a claim against you and your insurance.

Find more guidance from the Pinellas County Department of Building Services on how to choose a contractor here.

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