50 unlicensed contractors busted in Hillsborough County during ‘Operation Bad Builder’: HCSO

A four-month undercover investigation in Hillsborough County ended with 50 arrests after authorities targeted unlicensed contractors exploiting residents who are still trying to rebuild.Undercover Operation Targets ScammersUndercover detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office secured a location in Riverview to pose as residents seeking home repairs. Investigators responded to online advertisements between June 1 and Oct. 2, including postings from individuals who were previously reported for incomplete or poorly executed work.Deputies arrested 50 people during the four-month effort, known as "Operation Bad Builder." Authorities confirmed 18 of the individuals arrested are in the country illegally.Investigators noted several of the suspects hold extensive criminal records. One man who agreed to perform plumbing and electrical work without a license was previously arrested in June for domestic battery by strangulation. That suspect quoted $2,500 to install plumbing, rewire