Hillsborough's "Operation Bad Builder" Ends With 50 Arrests of Suspected Unlicensed Contractors. Here's How to Check Yours in Pinellas
A four-month undercover sting by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office led to 50 arrests of suspected unlicensed contractors. What the sheriff says happened, what Florida law says about unlicensed work, and how to check a contractor before you hire in Palm Harbor.
Top image: an AI-generated illustration. It does not show a real home or any case in this story.
Undercover detectives from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spent four months answering ads for home repair work, posing as homeowners who needed it done. The result: 50 arrests of people the sheriff's office says were working as contractors without a license, according to the sheriff's office press release (No. 26-175), issued Thursday, Oct. 22.
The sheriff's office calls it Operation Bad Builder. It ran from June 1 to Oct. 2, 2026, the release states.
The sting happened across the bay, but the ads it targeted are the same kind Palm Harbor homeowners see. And one of the two men the sheriff named had been arrested before in Pinellas County, according to what Sheriff Chad Chronister told reporters. Below is what the sheriff's office has said, what Florida law says about unlicensed work, and how to check a contractor here before you hand over a deposit.
Everyone in this story has been arrested, not convicted. An arrest is an accusation, and each person is presumed innocent unless and until the state proves its case in court.
Key takeaways
- 50 arrests: Detectives in the sheriff's Construction Fraud Unit found suspects through online and social media ads, tips and complaints from residents, and undercover meetings, according to the press release.
- The setup: Detectives set up a location in Riverview and invited people advertising electrical, plumbing and air conditioning work to come give estimates, 10 Tampa Bay reported.
- Two men named: The sheriff's office named Calvin Wilson, 40, and Steven Andreassen, 56. The release does not name the other 48 people or list their charges.
- The Pinellas link: Chronister said Wilson was arrested in Pinellas County in 2023 for unlicensed contracting, 10 Tampa Bay reported.
- The law: In Florida, unlicensed contracting is usually a first-degree misdemeanor. It becomes a third-degree felony after a prior guilty finding, or when it happens during a state of emergency declared by the governor.
- Check before you hire: Look up the license at MyFloridaLicense.com, then confirm the contractor can work here with the Pinellas County Contractor Search.
What the sheriff's office says happened
According to the press release, the sheriff's Property Division detectives within the Construction Fraud Unit "used multiple enforcement strategies, including searching online and social media advertisements, following up on resident tips and complaints, and conducting undercover meetings with suspects." The operation led to 50 arrests, the release states.
Chronister gave more detail at a news conference on Thursday. Undercover detectives secured a location in Riverview and posed as homeowners looking for construction services, including electrical, plumbing and air conditioning work, according to 10 Tampa Bay.
"This is people we went out online, we did our research and found that they were unlicensed, invited them to come provide a quote," Chronister said, according to FOX 13. "Some of these individuals, we specifically targeted because we already had complaints from the county that some of them completed shoddy work. Stole people's money and never completed the work."
The 50 arrests involved charges of alleged unlicensed contracting and other violations, 10 Tampa Bay reported. The release does not list the charges, how many are felonies, or how many homeowners lost money.
At the news conference, Chronister also said 18 of the people arrested were in the country unlawfully, 10 Tampa Bay reported.
The two men the sheriff named
Calvin Wilson, 40
Wilson was reported for "taking on home projects and leaving residents' homes in worse condition, resulting in costly repairs," according to the press release. The sheriff's office says he is a convicted felon with a history of robbery, grand theft and aggravated battery, and that he was arrested for the same crime in 2023.
Chronister said that in the sting, Wilson allegedly offered to do air conditioning work without a license, quoting $14,000 and asking for half the money up front, according to 10 Tampa Bay. Chronister said Wilson's 2023 arrest for unlicensed contracting was in Pinellas County, 10 Tampa Bay reported. Palm Harbor Happenings has not reviewed that earlier case.
Steven Andreassen, 56
Andreassen was arrested for performing electrical work without a license, according to the press release. The sheriff's office says he was arrested in June for domestic battery by strangulation, and that he has prior out-of-state arrests for kidnapping, robbery, sexual battery, drug offenses and assault with a deadly weapon on a government official.
Chronister said Andreassen offered to do plumbing and electrical work for $2,500, including a $1,000 deposit, 10 Tampa Bay reported.
The sheriff said neither man has a license to perform the work as advertised, according to 10 Tampa Bay. We have not found a public statement from either man or from a lawyer for either man. If one is made, we will add it here.
In the sheriff's words
"A contractor's license is more than a piece of paper. It is proof that the person working on your home has the training to do the job safely. When someone with no license and no training touches your wiring, your roof, or your home's foundation, they are putting your family in danger. This operation was about more than arrests. It was about protecting your home and the people you love."
Sheriff Chad Chronister, in the press release
At the news conference, Chronister described the pitch that he says draws homeowners in. "They're saying, 'Hey, we can get started immediately. Don't worry about the permit process. We don't need permits. There's no lengthy inspection process. We'll get started immediately,'" he said, according to FOX 13. He said the most enticing part is "all the money that they convince us that they can save us."
He said homeowners still recovering from the 2024 hurricanes may be especially vulnerable to people who promise fast repairs at unusually low prices, 10 Tampa Bay reported. "This is never about paperwork," he said. "This is about safety."
Why a Hillsborough sting matters in Palm Harbor
Contractors do not stop at the county line. Oldsmar, Westchase and Tampa are a short drive from Palm Harbor, and a contractor who advertises online can take jobs on either side.
The sheriff's office has not said where the 50 people arrested live or work. So far the only Pinellas connection on the public record is Wilson's earlier case: Chronister said Wilson was arrested in Pinellas County in 2023 for unlicensed contracting, 10 Tampa Bay reported. We do not know of any other link to Pinellas, and we are not suggesting there is one.
Pinellas has its own history with this, much of it after storms. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, a two-week state operation with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office led to more than 50 arrests and saved homeowners from more than $250,000 in losses, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation said in a Nov. 4, 2024 release. The people arrested had asked homeowners to pay for 85 plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, roofing and structural repair jobs, and 21 of them were from outside the county, according to DBPR.
That November, the sheriff's office and Clearwater police arrested more than 40 suspects on more than 50 charges in a two-day operation on Clearwater Beach called Flood of Fraud 2, according to the sheriff's office (release 24-143). In that release, the sheriff's office warned that most building repairs in Pinellas County require permits, told residents to be wary of contractors who ask homeowners to get owner/builder permits, and said, "Reputable contractors apply for their own permits."
Earlier, in August 2018, the sheriff's office arrested 25 unlicensed contractors in Operation Flush Out after deputies answered ads on sites including Craigslist and Nextdoor, Patch reported. "Not one person who showed up was licensed," Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said at the time.
Tampa Bay contractor stings, by the numbers
| Operation | Agency | When | Arrests | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation Bad Builder | Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office | June 1 to Oct. 2, 2026 (about four months) | 50 | HCSO release 26-175 |
| Flood of Fraud 2 | Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and Clearwater Police | Two days, Nov. 2024, Clearwater Beach | More than 40 | PCSO release 24-143 |
| Post-Helene and Milton operation | DBPR with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office | Two weeks, announced Nov. 4, 2024 | More than 50 | DBPR |
| Operation House Hunters | Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office | Nine-month investigation, announced Feb. 2020 | 118 | WUSF |
| Operation Flush Out | Pinellas County Sheriff's Office | Aug. 4 to 6, 2018 | 25 | Patch |
In the 2020 operation, Chronister said the people arrested had tried to do work totaling more than $540,000, WUSF reported. The sheriff's office has not given a dollar figure for Operation Bad Builder.
What Florida law says about unlicensed work
Here is what the state's contracting law, Chapter 489 of the Florida Statutes, says on the points that matter most to a homeowner. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. If you have lost money to a contractor, talk to a Florida attorney about your own situation.
| The rule | What it means for you | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Unlicensed contracting is a crime | A first offense is a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. | s. 489.127(2)(a); ss. 775.082, 775.083 |
| Repeat offenses are felonies | Doing it again after a prior guilty finding is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. The step-up depends on a prior guilty finding, not just a prior arrest. | s. 489.127(2)(b) |
| Emergencies raise the stakes | Unlicensed contracting during a state of emergency declared by the governor is a third-degree felony. | s. 489.127(2)(c) |
| The unlicensed contractor cannot enforce the contract | A contract signed by an unlicensed contractor cannot be enforced by that contractor, and they get no lien on your property for the work. | s. 489.128 |
| The state recovery fund only covers licensed contractors | The Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund can pay some homeowners who lose money to a contractor, but only when the violation was committed by a licensee. If you hire someone without a license, that fund is not there for you. | s. 489.141(1)(c) |
| Big deposits come with deadlines | A contractor who takes more than 10% of the price up front on a home job must apply for any needed permits within 30 days and start work within 90 days after the permits are issued, unless the contractor has just cause or you agreed in writing to a longer period. | s. 489.126(2)(a) |
| The license number belongs on the ad | A state-certified or registered contractor must put the license number on every ad, bid and contract. A Marketplace post with no license number is a reason to ask questions. | s. 489.119(5)(b) |
| The small-job exemption is narrow | Casual, minor work under $2,500 in total can be exempt, but not if it is part of a bigger job split up to dodge the law, and not for anyone who advertises as a contractor. | s. 489.103(9) |
How to verify a contractor's license before you hire
The sheriff's office urges homeowners to verify a license, ask for proof of insurance, be careful with ads on social media and online marketplaces, get everything in writing and never pay the full amount up front. Here is how to do the license check yourself from Palm Harbor, on your phone, before anyone starts work.
Check a license in 9 steps
- Ask for the license number and the business name. Write down both, plus the name of the person you are dealing with. Pinellas County tells homeowners to "ask for their name and license number" before hiring any contractor. A state-certified or registered contractor must put the license number on every ad, bid and contract (s. 489.119(5)(b)), so they should have it ready. "Any licensed contractor will get excited," Chronister said, according to 10 Tampa Bay. "They're proud to show you their license."
- Look it up yourself. Do not rely on a number painted on a truck or printed on a flyer. Open the state's own lookup, Verify a Licensee on MyFloridaLicense.com, run by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Tap Search by License Number and type the number exactly, letters included. The search covers both the Construction Industry and Electrical Contractors boards.
- Read the status. In the Status/Expires column, you want Current, Active. DBPR defines Current as up to date with the department's licensing requirements, and Active as allowed to operate under the license. Inactive means the holder is not allowed to work under it. Delinquent and Invol. Inactive mean the license was not renewed on time, and Suspended means work privileges are suspended (DBPR glossary).
- Check the expiration date. It is in the same column, under the status. If the license expires before your job will be done, ask the contractor about it.
- Match the license type to the job. The License Type column spells it out, for example Certified General Contractor or Certified Roofing Contractor. Each type has a set scope. DBPR's Construction Industry page lists them; it says, for example, that a residential contractor is limited to one-, two- and three-family homes of not more than two stories.
- Read the DBA line. One license number often shows up on two rows. The row marked Primary is the license holder's legal name. The row marked DBA ("doing business as") is the business name. Florida law says a license holder who contracts through a business organization, or under a name other than their legal name (other than a sole proprietor's own fictitious name), must apply as the qualifying agent of that business (s. 489.119(2)). So the DBA tells you which company the license covers. If the company on your estimate is not the holder's own name and is not a DBA on the record, ask about it before you sign. There can be an innocent reason, such as one person holding separate licenses for different companies, so search the company name too.
- See whether it is Certified or Registered. A certified contractor holds a state certificate and can work anywhere in Florida (s. 489.105(8)). A registered contractor met the competency requirements of a local area and can work only there (s. 489.105(10)). DBPR says certified license codes begin with C, such as CG for general, CB for building, CR for residential and CC for roofing, and registered codes begin with R.
- Confirm they can work in Pinellas. Use the county's Contractor Search, which Pinellas County says shows whether a contractor is eligible to work in the county. The county requires state-certified contractors to register with the county and provide proof of insurance. Local licensing here is handled by the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, a dependent special district of the county under Chapter 2024-294, Laws of Florida, and run day to day by the county's Contractor Licensing Department. Questions: (727) 582-3100.
- Ask for insurance and the permit. Ask for a certificate of insurance; the county says it monitors contractors' liability and workers' compensation insurance. Then ask who will pull the permit and for its number. In unincorporated Palm Harbor, permits go through Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services and its Access Portal. The county says most jobs that change your home's structure, electrical, plumbing or mechanical systems need a permit, while cosmetic work like painting or new carpet usually does not (Pinellas County). If you live in Oldsmar or Safety Harbor, check with your city first; if you live in another city, such as Tarpon Springs or Dunedin, the county lists the building department to call.
If the search comes up empty
- One empty search does not prove a contractor is unlicensed. Name searches can miss because of spelling, middle names or a company name. Search the exact license number, then try both the person's legal name and the company name.
- Still nothing? Ask the contractor for a copy of the license, and call DBPR's Customer Contact Center at 850-487-1395 or the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board at (727) 582-3100.
- Some small jobs are exempt. State law exempts casual, minor work under $2,500 in total. The exemption does not cover a bigger job split into smaller contracts, or anyone who advertises as a contractor (s. 489.103(9)). State law also says a local government may not require a license for work that does not substantially correspond to one of the state's contractor categories (s. 489.117(4)(a)1.). If you are not sure whether your job needs a licensed contractor, ask the county.
Keep the deposit small, and never pay the whole price up front. If you pay more than 10%, write down the date, because the 30-day permit deadline in state law starts then.
Run the same check on anyone you hire, including businesses you find in our Home Services directory. A listing in a directory, ours included, is not a license check.
Who to call in Palm Harbor
Palm Harbor is not a city. It is part of unincorporated Pinellas County, where the county commission serves as the local government (Pinellas County). That means your building permits and local contractor licensing go through the county, not a city hall. If you are not sure whether your address is in a city or in unincorporated Pinellas, enter it in the county's My Neighborhood lookup.
| What you need | Who handles it | How to reach them |
|---|---|---|
| See whether your job was permitted | Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services | Search your address in the county's Access Portal building records |
| Check a contractor can work in Pinellas | Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, run by the county's Contractor Licensing Department | Contractor Search, or (727) 582-3100 |
| Report unlicensed contracting to the county | Pinellas County Contractor Licensing Department | (727) 582-6767, or report online |
| Report unlicensed contracting to the state | DBPR Unlicensed Activity Program | Hotline (866) 532-1440, or MyFloridaLicense.com |
| Report a crime, such as money taken for work never done | Pinellas County Sheriff's Office | Non-emergency 727-582-6200. In an emergency, call 911. |
| You dealt with someone from this Hillsborough sting | Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office detectives | 813-247-8200 |
Whoever you call, keep everything: the ad, texts, the written estimate, receipts and photos of the work.
What we don't know yet
- The names of the other 48 people arrested, and what each is charged with.
- How many of the charges are felonies and how many are misdemeanors.
- How many homeowners lost money, and how much.
- Whether any of the people arrested advertise or work in Pinellas County, beyond Wilson's earlier arrest.
- What formal charges prosecutors will file.
For more local news, see our News page. If a storm flooded your air handler, read our guide to a flooded HVAC system after a hurricane before you call anyone. Scammers use email too, so it is worth knowing how to spot a phishing email.
This story is based on the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office press release, statements the sheriff made at a news conference as reported by the outlets listed below, and the text of the Florida Statutes. Palm Harbor Happenings has not reviewed the arrest records or court files. Our summary of Florida law is general information, not legal advice. We will update this story if the sheriff's office releases more names or details.
Sources
- Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, "Operation Bad Builder Leads to 50 Arrests of Unlicensed Contractors," press release No. 26-175, Oct. 22, 2026.
- 10 Tampa Bay (WTSP), Brenton Burkett, "50 arrested in Hillsborough County undercover operation targeting unlicensed contractors: sheriff," Oct. 22, 2026 (via Yahoo News).
- FOX 13, "50 unlicensed contractors busted in Hillsborough County during 'Operation Bad Builder': HCSO," Oct. 22, 2026.
- WWSB (ABC7 Sarasota), "Hillsborough deputies arrest 50 unlicensed contractors in 'Operation Bad Builder'," Oct. 22, 2026.
- Tampa Bay Beacons, "50 arrested in Hillsborough contractor sting," Oct. 22, 2026.
- WUSF, "Hillsborough Unlicensed Contractor Investigation Nets 118 Arrests," Feb. 4, 2020.
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, "Florida DBPR Takes Action Against Unlicensed Contractors Targeting Floridians Impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton," Nov. 4, 2024.
- Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, "Joint Press Conference to Discuss Unlicensed Contractor Operation (24-143)," Nov. 2024.
- Patch, "Pinellas Sheriff Arrests 25 Unlicensed Contractors In Sting," Aug. 6, 2018.
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Verify a Licensee, glossary of license status terms and Construction Industry license types.
- Pinellas County, Contractor Licensing Department, Contractor Search, Register a State Contractor's License, Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board and Apply for a Building Permit, Access Portal building records, Unincorporated North County Resources and My Neighborhood.
- Florida Senate, HB 1483 (2024), Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, Chapter No. 2024-294, effective June 14, 2024.
- Florida Statutes (2026), Chapter 489: ss. 489.103, 489.105, 489.117, 489.119, 489.126, 489.127, 489.128, 489.140 and 489.141; ss. 775.082 and 775.083 (penalties).