A Port Charlotte couple is now at the center of a criminal case after investigators say a series of unlicensed home repairs ended with a homeowner out $10,000. Court records show Billy D. Hardison and Colleen Ann Katranis are charged with scheming to defraud, obtaining property under $20,000 and engaging in contracting without certification, with Hardison also facing an exploitation charge tied to the victim's age or disability. Authorities say the disputed work and payments stretch back to spring 2025 and the case is working its way through the Charlotte County court system.
How deputies say it started
Deputies were called to a Buckingham Way home in September 2025 after the homeowner reported that Hardison, who had offered to remove an unused bathtub, came into her house without permission and started demolition that damaged a bathroom wall. According to court records, he later asked for and received the house keys, then installed a vanity and made electrical and plumbing changes without written estimates or permits. Investigators say the homeowner ultimately made two payments totaling $10,000 into a bank account in Katranis’ name. The couple were arrested after deputies and investigators reviewed the complaint, according to Gulf Coast News.
Legal context and potential penalties
Florida law bars anyone from engaging in contracting without proper certification and generally treats contracts with unlicensed contractors as unenforceable. Those rules, along with penalties, are laid out in the state’s contracting statutes. Florida’s fraud and organized scheme laws cover efforts to obtain property by false pretenses and scale penalties based on the total loss and on whether the victim is especially vulnerable. The statutes are compiled in Chapter 489 on contracting and Chapter 817 on fraudulent practices. The Florida Senate and the Florida Senate provide the full statutory language and penalty breakdowns.
What investigators say they found
According to court documents, Hardison told deputies he was working under another contractor’s license and that permits were not required. Investigators say the contracting company he named told them he had never worked for them. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation informed detectives on Sept. 30, 2025, that Hardison does not and has never held a contractor license in Florida, according to the records. Katranis returned the homeowner’s keys but provided only a generic handwritten bill before both were taken into custody, Gulf Coast News reported.
How to protect yourself
Cases involving unlicensed contractors often spike after storms and during busy renovation seasons, so regulators and consumer advocates urge homeowners to slow down and verify credentials before signing or paying. National and local watchdogs recommend checking licensing and complaint histories, getting detailed written estimates, confirming permit requirements for structural, electrical or plumbing work, and steering clear of large upfront cash payments. The National Insurance Crime Bureau’s resources outline contractor fraud warning signs, and local consumer reporters have repeatedly highlighted the risk of pressure tactics and too-good-to-be-true deals. NICB and Fox 4 Now offer practical checklists and red flags.
Case status and resources
Hardison and Katranis have been arrested and charged, and court proceedings are pending in Charlotte County. Anyone who believes they may have been targeted in a similar way can report suspected unlicensed activity to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Unlicensed Activity unit and can contact local law enforcement. DBPR’s online tools explain how to verify a contractor’s status, and local jail and records portals list sheriff and records contacts. For official verification and reporting, see the DBPR "Verify a License" page and Charlotte County public records resources. MyFloridaLicense and local public records portals provide next steps for homeowners.
