More than two dozen people are now locked up after being accused of offering to do repair work without licenses, according to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
The sheriff announced the results of “Operation Flush Out” Monday morning as deputies carted away several people accused of operating as unlicensed contractors.
Many were too embarrassed to show their faces as deputies cuffed them and took them off to jail.
The sheriff said undercover deputies put out ads for work that needed to be done at a vacant business on 54th Avenue North near 28th Street North.
More than two dozen people showed up claiming to be qualified for everything from electrical, drywall and painting.
The sheriff said not a single one had a license to prove they were qualified to do work.
“They know what the obligation is, they know what the law is, they just choose not to follow it,” Gualtieri said.