17 arrested for unlicensed contracting in Sarasota County

SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) – The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 17 people on multiple charges of unlicensed contracting. 

Detectives worked alongside the Sarasota County Building Department, the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud, and the DBPR to conduct Operation Hammer Down II which resulted in 21 felony charges and 15 misdemeanor charges over a three-day operation.

• Stanley B. Brown, 56, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.
• Antonio Caputo, 77, charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.
• Amie L. Criss, 36, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.
• Oscar Cortes, 25, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting, Workers Compensation Fraud and Possession of Marijuana Under 20 Grams.
• Charles H. Davis Jr., 61, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.
• George W. Dills, 55, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.
• Chad A. Fagenbaum, 47, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.
• Forest C. Freeman,41, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.
• Phillip G. Greenwell, 49, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.
• Michael Kropsch, 56, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.
• Julius Kubricky, 56, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.
• Jeffrey J. Levelle, 62, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.
• David Nondorf, 48, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.
• James A. Pusateri Jr., 54, is charged Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud. He has a prior arrest in Sarasota County for similar crimes.
• Paul Sorke, 49, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud. Sorke has two prior arrests in Sarasota County for similar crimes.
• James L. Tate, 54, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting, Workers Compensation Fraud, and Possession of Controlled Substance.
• Phil Van Brandt, 58, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.

“These arrests serve as a strong reminder to always do your research before selecting someone to work on your home or business,” commented Sheriff Tom Knight. “Consumers are exposing themselves to financial and physical risk by allowing these people to enter their home unlicensed. Not only does this pose a threat to consumers, it also directly effects legitimate business owners doing the right thing and operating within the parameters of the law.”

Their arrests are in addition to six arrests announced by the sheriff’s office in April. To check a Sarasota County license, call the Customer Service and Permit Center at 941-861-6678 or 941-861-3029. To report someone you suspect is acting as an unlicensed contractor or performing work without a permit, call 941-861-5000.