DORAL, Fla. –On Monday, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) opened a new office in Miami-Dade County for the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes.

The Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes oversees Florida residential communities regulated by DBPR through education; mediation and arbitration; complaint resolution; and developer disclosure. Miami-Dade condominium owners can seek guidance at the new office for questions or issues regarding their condominiums. Walk-ins are welcome and DBPR team members are on standby, ready to assist.

The new office is located at:

DBPR Division of Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes
8240 NW 52nd Terrace, Suite 520
Doral, FL 33166

With people across Volusia County still recovering and seeking repairs to properties damaged by Hurricane Irma, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office launched its second recent sting operation targeting unlicensed contractors looking to cash in on the work.

Volusia County sheriff’s detectives in cooperation with the State Attorney’s Office, Daytona Beach Police Department, and state insurance and fraud regulators, conducted a two-day undercover operation, which culminated today (Friday), zeroing in on unlicensed contractors in Deltona and Daytona Beach. The sting, dubbed “Operation Hurri-Con,” was designed to catch those who prey on victims of hurricane damage by advertising or offering services such as A/C, electrical or roofing jobs – all work that requires licensed contractors.

Investigators developed a list of unlicensed contractors on both sides of Volusia County, and set up meeting places in Daytona Beach (Thursday) and Deltona (Friday). In several cases, the contractors had advertised on Craigslist. Earlier this week, detectives called the suspect contractors at their business and requested an appointment for the contractor to visit an address to provide an estimate for roof repair. In each case, representations from the state Department of Business Professional Regulation (DBPR) confirmed that the contractor was unlicensed.

Once the unlicensed contractor provided an estimate for the job and left the business, deputies made traffic stops and arrested the contractor, transporting them to the Volusia County Branch Jail. Each was charged with engaging in contracting business without certification (Florida Statute 489.127) , and failure to secure workers’ compensation insurance coverage (F.S. 440.105 (4)(A)3).

The crimes were committed during the state of emergency declared by Gov. Rick Scott, making the charge of operating without a license a felony, deputies say. Detectives determined that each suspect “knowingly and unlawfully engaged in the business or acted in the capacity of a contractor . . . without being duly registered or certified,” the affidavits state.

“We want the message to be clear: If you’re in this business to help people, great. If you’re here because of greed, be assured, we will do this again and you will be found,” said Lt. Brian Henderson of the VCSO’s Major Crimes Unit. “With some people, it’s very evident they are trying to capitalize on (damage from) the hurricane.”

Added Sheriff Mike Chitwood: “We’ve run this operation before, and we’ll do it again – the point is, if you want to do the kind of work that requires a permit, go through the process and do it legitimately. We’re not going to sit here and leave our residents vulnerable to scam artists and thieves out there looking to make an easy profit.”

Henderson advised homeowners seeking reputable, licensed contractors to go to the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s website: www.myfloridalicense.com. In addition, anyone who hires an unlicensed contractor is civilly liable if that contractor gets injured while working on your home, Henderson said.

Those arrested Thursday, Sept. 28, and Friday, Sept. 29 were:

• David Crabtree, 58, Ormond Beach;
• Bob Avila, 36, Palm Bay;
• Thomas Kaltenekker, 50, TKR Restorations and Repairs, Columbus, Ohio;
• John Kirk, 43, Port Orange; *also charged with violation of felony probation for credit card
• fraud in an unrelated case;
• Shawn Ryerson, 45, Daytona Beach;
• Stanley Bentley, 50, West Volusia
• Brian Dinker, 23, West Volusia
• Charles Nunn, 57, West Volusia

If found guilty, the defendants face up to five years in prison.

“Volusia was one of the many counties directly affected by Hurricane Irma. The results of this sting are proof that unlicensed contractors are in the area attempting to do work that they are unlicensed and unqualified to do,” said DBPR Secretary Jonathan Zachem. “It’s imperative that property owners always verify a contractor’s license before signing a contract. If you suspect unlicensed activity is taking place in your area, please report it directly to DBPR by calling the Unlicensed Activity Hotline at 1.866.532.1440 or by emailing ULA@myfloridalicense.com.”

Originally published by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested nine people on multiple charges during Operation Freelancer IV, an investigation to protect citizens from unlicensed contractors.

Detectives worked with the Sarasota County Building Department, the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to contact individuals advertising home repair services that require a license to complete. As individuals arrived at the predetermined residence last week, the DBPR database was checked to determine if they were licensed, registered as a contractor, and/or required workers compensation coverage or exemption, to perform the work they proposed to do.

In all, the operation resulted in 11 felony charges and seven misdemeanor charges. Those arrested have a total of 40 prior felony and misdemeanor charges as well as eight convictions. One of the defendants, Timothy Jewell, has several prior arrests for Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer with a Weapon and Resisting Arrest with Violence. Another, Raul Morey-Arenas, has six prior felony charges in both Sarasota and Manatee counties dating back to 2008 for Burglary and Uttering a Forged Instrument. The following individuals were arrested during the three-day operation:

• Joseph Hopp Jr., DOB 1/31/1961, 5310 17th Court W., Bradenton
• Mark Lamoureux, DOB 4/6/1948, 5200 Densaw Road, North Port
• Richard Hayez, DOB 7/7/1950, 7103 Gama Court, North Port
• Raul Morey-Arenas, DOB 4/22/1959, 2068 Hillview Street, Sarasota
• Terence Miller, DOB 6/23/1961, 3382 Trinity Street, North Port
• Timothy Jewell, DOB 10/22/1960, 1074 Deer Hollow Way, Sarasota
• David Pond, DOB 10/10/1973, 8446 Knollwood Drive, Myrtle Beach
• Jonathan King, DOB 10/16/1975, 7192 Sussix Lane, Englewood
• Charles Cochran, DOB 12/16/1961, 2708 Starlite Lane, Port Charlotte

Since 2012, the sheriff’s office has assigned detectives to investigate claims against people who engage in contracting work without proper licenses, permits or certification. A first offense usually results in a civil citation by code enforcement but subsequent violations lead to misdemeanor or felony criminal charges. The defendants also receive a cease and desist order from the State of Florida.

“Maintenance operations like these should be a good reminder for consumers to always seek licensed contractors to perform work on their homes or businesses,” said Sheriff Tom Knight. “Consumers are exposing themselves to financial and physical risk by allowing these people to enter their home, unlicensed, and in some cases, with criminal histories. Let this be a warning to criminals who come into our community and illegally solicit services, that their behavior will not be tolerated.”

“It has been rewarding to partner with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the Sarasota County Building Department to raise awareness about the dangers of hiring unlicensed contractors in Florida,” said DBPR Secretary Jonathan Zachem. “Unlicensed activity is a serious concern for the general public, particularly during hurricane season. Partnerships like this are vital in our efforts to advise the public about the benefits of hiring licensed professionals.”

Florida law sets specific rules and guidelines for obtaining professional licensure, and the people who have met these requirements are held to professional standards. Consumers can verify licenses with the DBPR online at www.myfloridalicense.com, by calling 850.487.1395, or download the free DBPR Mobile app through iTunes or the Google Play store.

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.