Deputies Nab Unlicensed Contractors During Operation Cast Out

MADEIRA BEACH, FL -- Pinellas County Sheriff's detectives have arrested 35 people in an undercover sting aimed at unlicensed contractors.

Between Saturday, Nov. 3, and Monday, Nov. 5, detectives assigned to the Economic Crimes Unit, along with the Florida Department of Financial Services and the State Attorney Sixth Judicial Court, set up a sting operation at a store front at 200 150th Ave., Madeira Beach, in which they solicited work from unlicensed contractors found advertising on websites including Facebook, Craigslist and Next Door.

The unlicensed contractors came to the store front and offered to do a variety of work including electrical, painting, drywall and tile work without a license or permits.

As a result, the sheriff's office arrested 35 people on 65 criminal charges and referred one to the State Attorney's Office for two additional criminal charges. These charges include unlicensed specialty contracting violations, workers compensation fraud and various other criminal charges unrelated to unlicensed contracting.

"It's really not hard," said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieiri. "We're setting up these undercover operations and we make the phone calls and they come. It really is too easy. When we start seeing the numbers go down and we start seeing people show up who are licensed, then we'll know we are making a difference and we've made an impact in this."

The sheriff's office has arrested 110 unlicensed contractors on more than 240 criminal charges since the office's first undercover sting, Operation Nailed, on Aug. 7, 2017.

The following people were arrested:

• Arri Leva
• John Hardin
• Richard T. Wallace
• Hugo Ramos
• Jose Cuevas-Ojeda
• Julio Casiano-Ortiz
• Samuel Rivera Irrizary
• Nicholas Vargo
• Avdi Seljimaj
• Illia Pinchuck
• Nico Mitaskos
• Joshua Marshman
• Joseph Burker
• Nathan Borst
• Rodolfo Garza Jr.
• Jason Ochenrider
• Danielle Ritichie
• Alan V. Oliveira Lopes
• David Rea
• Edio J Silva Menezes
• Saleem Khan
• Javier Chacon
• Ernesto Perez Andres
• Keldrick Lockett
• Anthony Giannola
• Tyler McGurl
• Daniel Mowrey
• Matthew Colangelo
• Robert L Quesenberry
• Roman Boronbekov
• Julio Palacios Gonzalez
• Hugo Espinosa Bororquez
• Andrew Humiston
• Carlow LaLuz
• Driss Rougui

Residents in Pinellas County can search for licensed contractors or report unlicensed construction activity by visiting the PCCLB website.

Residents can also report violations by contacting the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office at (727)
582-6200.

Images via Pinellas County Sheriff

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