8 contractors arrested during two-day sting in Volusia County

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies said they arrested eight unlicensed and uninsured contractors in Volusia County.

Deputies captured the arrests as part of what investigators called “Operation Extreme Makeover: Fraud Edition” on body camera video.

Deputies set up a sting house in Deltona and another in DeLand to lure the contractors in.

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While the operation was planned well in advance of the EF-2 tornado that hit DeLand this summer, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood worried homeowners would be targeted by these types of contractors.

Luckily, he said none of the tornado victims were scammed. He chalks that up to people being extra vigilant after the tornado about who they hired.

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“I encourage everyone to take your time go onto the Florida websites that will tell you who is a licensed contractor,” he said. “It’s your money protect yourself we have seen elderly people be fleeced out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by these guys.”

Because the state of emergency was in effect due to Hurricane Isaias, all eight of the contractors face the felony charge of contracting without a license during a state of emergency.

VIDEO: Volusia County Sheriff's Office getting new bodycams