Raymond James Caruso, III (aka Raymond Caruso), formerly a licensed private investigator and agency owner, was arrested for violating the new Florida statute for providing private investigative services without being licensed. The new statute went into effect July 1, 2013.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Law Enforcement Division, arrested Raymond Caruso, 46, on December 3, 2014 in Tampa, FL. Caruso was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail and charged with "Operating as a Private Investigator without a license" a violation of FS 493.6120(5) for providing unlicensed private investigative activities.

Bond was set at $1,000 and Caruso was released after it was posted. His arraignment is set for January 8, 2015 at 8:00 am.

According to the FDACS investigative report, Caruso owned an agency in the past. Both his agency licenses were revoked, and his personal license was not eligible for renewal. More information about this arrest will be forthcoming in January. In addition, arrests of "other" violators is also expected.

FALI worked hard to ensure the passage of this law. Its implementation is a process and takes much time and effort from the FDACS to build a case against the offenders. The waiting has been frustrating at times, but the payoffs of finally seeing action will benefit all of us.

Link to HCSO Arrest Report