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5/20/19, 19)05Welcome to Sarasota County Sheriff's, FL
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Continued Operation Yields 17Arrests for Unlicensed ContractingNEWS RELEASE 19-079
5/20/19, 19)05Welcome to Sarasota County Sheriff's, FL
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The Sarasota County Sheriff s̓ Office arrested 17 people on multiple chargesduring the continuation of an undercover operation to protect citizens fromunlicensed contractors.
Detectives worked with the Sarasota County Building Department, theFlorida Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud andthe Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) tocontact individuals advertising home repair services that require a license tocomplete. As subjects arrived at the target residence in southern SarasotaCounty last week, the DBPR database was checked to determine if theywere licensed, registered as a contractor, and/or had the required workerscompensation coverage or exemption to perform the work they proposed todo.
In all, the second part of the operation resulted in 21 felony charges and 15misdemeanor charges. The following individuals were arrested during thethree-day operation. Their arrests are in addition to six arrests announcedby the sheriff s̓ office in April.
Stanley B. Brown, DOB 01/30/63, of 109 Tortuga Drive, Nokomis, ischarged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers CompensationFraud.Antonio Caputo, DOB 10/10/41, of 144 Mariner Lane, Rotonda West, ischarged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers CompensationFraud.Amie L. Criss, DOB 03/12/83, of 3301 19th Ave. West, Bradenton, ischarged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers CompensationFraud.Oscar Cortes, DOB 12/25/93, of 3715 14th St. W. Lot 75, Bradenton, is
5/20/19, 19)05Welcome to Sarasota County Sheriff's, FL
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charged with Unlicensed Contracting, Workers Compensation Fraudand Possession of Marijuana Under 20 Grams.Charles H. Davis Jr., DOB 01/07/58, of 958 Inaqua Ave., Venice, ischarged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers CompensationFraud.George W. Dills, DOB 05/20/64, of 252 Gardenia Rd., Venice, ischarged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers CompensationFraud.Chad A. Fagenbaum, DOB 04/24/72, of 340 Altair Rd., Venice, ischarged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers CompensationFraud.Forest C. Freeman, DOB 12/25/72, of 5687 Summer Side Lane, Apt26b, Sarasota, is charged with Unlicensed Contracting and WorkersCompensation Fraud.Phillip G. Greenwell, DOB 12/20/60, of 22124 26th Ave E, Bradenton, ischarged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers CompensationFraud.Michael Kropsch, DOB 02/28/63, of 4685 Avanti Circle, North Port, ischarged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers CompensationFraud.Julius Kubricky, DOB 04/03/63, of 1345 24th St., Sarasota, is chargedwith Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.Jeffrey J. Levelle, DOB 03/27/57, of 1136 Andrews St., Englewood, ischarged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers CompensationFraud.David Nondorf, DOB 10/13/71. 508 E Seminole Dr, Venice, is chargedwith Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud.James A. Pusateri Jr., DOB 05/17/65, of 380 E. Dearborn St.,Englewood, is charged Unlicensed Contracting and WorkersCompensation Fraud. He has a prior arrest in Sarasota County for
5/20/19, 19)05Welcome to Sarasota County Sheriff's, FL
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similar crimes.Paul Sorke, DOB 07/27/69, of 1544 Scarlett Ave., North Port, is chargedwith Unlicensed Contracting and Workers Compensation Fraud. Sorkehas two prior arrests in Sarasota County for similar crimes.James L. Tate, DOB 12/29/65, of 5210 14th St West Lot #16, Bradenton,is charged with Unlicensed Contracting, Workers Compensation Fraud,and Possession of Controlled Substance.Phil Van Brandt, DOB 05/15/61, of 7471 N. Leewynn Dr., Sarasota, ischarged with Unlicensed Contracting and Workers CompensationFraud.
Since 2012, the sheriff s̓ office has assigned detectives to investigate claimsagainst people who engage in contracting work without proper licenses,permits or certification. A first offense usually results in a civil citation bycode enforcement but subsequent violations lead to misdemeanor or felonycriminal charges. The defendants also receive a cease and desist orderfrom the State of Florida.
“These arrests serve as a strong reminder to always do your researchbefore selecting someone to work on your home or business,” commentedSheriff Tom Knight. “Consumers are exposing themselves to financial andphysical risk by allowing these people to enter their home unlicensed. Notonly does this pose a threat to consumers, it also directly effects legitimatebusiness owners doing the right thing and operating within the parametersof the law.”
“When Floridians need to make improvements or repairs to their home, theydeserve to have the confidence that the work will be done honestly,completely, and according to professional standards that are designed toprotect them and their families,” said DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears. “Iappreciate the hard work of our state and local partners in Operation
5/20/19, 19)05Welcome to Sarasota County Sheriff's, FL
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Hammer Down whose support helps bring both enforcement andawareness to this important public concern.”
Florida law establishes rules and guidelines for obtaining professionallicensure, and the people who have met these requirements are held toprofessional standards. Consumers can verify licenses with the DBPR onlineat www.myfloridalicense.com, by calling 850.487.1395, or downloading thefree DBPR Mobile app through iTunes or the Google Play store.
To check a Sarasota County license, call the Customer Service and PermitCenter at 941.861.6678 or 941.861.3029. To report someone you suspect isacting as an unlicensed contractor or performing work without a permit, call941.861.5000. For more information visithttps://www.scgov.net/government/planning-and-development-services/building.
5/20/19, 19)05Welcome to Sarasota County Sheriff's, FL
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Operation Yields 17 Arrests for Unlicensed Contracting
