More than 40 Illegal Immigrants Arrested for Looting Homes and Businesses in Storm-Ravaged Florida County

1

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri addressed the community at a press conference on October 24, 2024 regarding criminal activity following twin hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Storms devastated the Pinellas region and mandatory evacuation orders affected more than 500,000 residents.

As a result of the evictions, many areas turned into ghost towns and became the primary target of criminals who wanted to take advantage of the chaos. Sheriff Gualtieri reported that 12 residents lost their lives due to Hurricane Helene.

Sheriff Gualtieri announced that in the past three weeks, his deputies have arrested 45 people on charges ranging from armed robbery to trespassing. Surprisingly, only two of these individuals were local; the remainder came from outside Pinellas County, 41 of whom were undocumented immigrants from various countries in Central and South America. Deputies also contacted 196 people wandering around the coastal neighborhoods and advised them to leave the area.

To further protect residents, the sheriff’s office launched an undercover operation targeting unlicensed contractors. Collaborating with local and state agencies, they arrested 58 people on serious charges for operating as unlicensed contractors during the declared state of emergency. Sheriff Gualtieri highlighted the dangers posed by these unlicensed contractors, noting their lack of accountability and criminal history.

He emphasized that some of these so-called contractors have extensive criminal histories, from theft to drug offenses and even sexual crimes.

The sheriff concluded his remarks by strongly warning potential looters and scammers to stay away, reiterating the department’s commitment to protecting the community while rebuilding.