HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A multi-month undercover sting targeting unlicensed home improvement work across Hillsborough County ended with 50 people under arrest, Sheriff Chad Chronister announced.
The effort, dubbed Operation Bad Builder, ran from June 1 through October 2, 2026. Detectives from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Property Division and its Construction Fraud Unit tracked down suspects through several methods. Investigators combed through social media platforms, checked online listings, followed up on tips from local homeowners, and set up undercover meetings to catch people offering services without the required state credentials.
Authorities highlighted two notable arrests made during the months-long sweep…