Sting nets nine arrests of unlicensed contractors

MANATEE COUNTY — The Florida Department of Financial Services charged nine contractors doing work in Manatee County with failure to provide workers' compensation insurance and working without proper licenses.

The arrests stem from a two-day undercover operation, according to a release from Florida CFO Jeff Atwater's office. The Florida Department of Financial Services' Division of Insurance Fraud and Bureau of Compliance conducted the operation. It worked in conjunction with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Manatee County Sheriff's office, the Bradenton and Holmes Beach Police departments and the Manatee County State Attorney's Office.

“This activity displays a blatant disregard for worker safety, and I commend this joint effort,” Atwater says in the release. “We will continue working to protect the integrity of the construction industry in Florida and make sure these fraudsters can't put more Floridians at risk.”