Sheriff Chad Chronister and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office have announced the results of Operation Bad Builder, an undercover operation to identify and arrest unlicensed contractors in Hillsborough County.
From June 1 to October 2, 2026, HCSO’s Property Division detectives within the Construction Fraud Unit used multiple enforcement strategies, including searching online and social media advertisements, following up on resident tips and complaints, and conducting undercover meetings with suspects. The operation led to 50 arrests.
Among those arrested was Calvin Wilson, 40, who was reported for taking on home projects and leaving residents’ homes in worse condition, resulting in costly repairs. Wilson is a convicted felon with a history of robbery, grand theft, and aggravated battery, and was previously arrested for the same crime in 2023.
During this operation, detectives also met with Steven Andreassen, 56, who was arrested for performing electrical work without a license. In June, Andreassen was arrested for domestic battery by strangulation, and he has prior out-of-state arrests for kidnapping, robbery, sexual battery, drug offenses, and assault with a deadly weapon on a government official.
“A contractor’s license is more than a piece of paper. It is proof that the person working on your home has the training to do the job safely,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “When someone with no license and no training touches your wiring, your roof, or your home’s foundation, they are putting your family in danger. This operation was about more than arrests. It was about protecting your home and the people you love.”
HCSO urges the community to verify a contractor’s license at myfloridalicense.com, ask for proof of insurance, be cautious of ads on social media and online marketplaces, get everything in writing, and never pay the full amount up front.
Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by an unlicensed contractor is asked to contact detectives at 813-247-8200.
Any additional information on this operation will come from the Public Affairs Office.
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