CSLB Targets Unlicensed Contractors in San Joaquin County

    Twenty suspects face charges for contracting without a license, illegal advertising, and fraudulent use of a license number

    SACRAMENTO – Last week, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) exposed several men illegally charging thousands of dollars for home improvement work because they lacked the proper license and violated advertising laws. Homeowners are being warned that high prices don't necessarily mean quality work. By taking a few minutes to "Check A License First" homeowners can save time and money in the long run.

    At a single family home near University of the Pacific, CSLB's Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) posed as homeowners and invited alleged unlicensed contractors to bid on jobs like landscaping, flooring, cabinet installation, paving concrete, tree trimming, and painting the home. Twenty people came at scheduled times thinking they were going to get a paycheck but instead received a notice to appear in court.

    Over the two days, 19 workers provided bids well over the legal threshold for contracting without a license including $6,400 for landscaping, $8,000 for a kitchen remodel, and $18,559 to lay concrete.

    In California, it's illegal for an unlicensed person to perform contracting work on any project valued at $500 or more in combined labor and material costs. As a result, the suspects could now face a misdemeanor charge of contracting without a license (Business and Professions Code (BPC) §7028). First-conviction penalties include up to six months in jail and/or up to $5,000 in fines. A second conviction carries a mandatory 90 days in jail. Penalties are more severe with each successive violation.

    Eighteen individuals may also face an additional charge for illegal advertising. Licensed contractors must display their license number in all advertisements; unlicensed contractors must state in all ads that they do not have a license. (BPC §7027.1) The penalty for violating the advertising rules for unlicensed contractors is a fine of $700 to $1,000.

    "Unlicensed contractors often find ways to add costs to a project along the way and it's not uncommon for projects to be abandoned before completion," said Dave Fogt, CSLB Registrar. "Not only can they be scamming homeowners, it's also likely that they don't carry insurance for their business which makes the consumer liable for any damage or injuries."

    To avoid hiring a potentially unqualified worker for home improvement projects, homeowners should use CSLB's online "Find My Licensed Contractor" feature to download and/or print a list of qualified licensed contractors in their area.

    Lastly, one of the suspects is facing a third violation for fraudulently using the license of another (BPC §7027.3). A conviction of this crime could result in up to a year in jail and/or up to $10,000 in fines.

    The California Department of Insurance and San Joaquin District Attorney's Office were onsite to process background checks while SWIFT issued citations.

    All suspects are scheduled to appear on various dates in September and October at the San Joaquin County Superior Court (MAP), 1800 N. California Street, Stockton, CA 95204.

    NOTE: All suspects are presumed innocent until their case is resolved.

    DAY 1
    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE CLASSIFICATION ALLEGED VIOLATION
    Juan Lopez Garcia
    Lodi    		 D-49 Tree Service Contractor Contracting without a license
    Oscar Leonel Urizar
    Stockton    		 C-8 Concrete Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    Ricardo Guzman Gonzalez
    Stockton    		 C-13 Fencing Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    Emmanuel Gutierrez Gomez
    Stockton    		 C-13 Fencing Contractor,
    C-8 Concrete Contractor    		 Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    Ryan Michael Mattos
    Stockton    		 D-35 Pool and Spa Maintenance Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    John Austin Scott, Jr.
    Stockton    		 D-49 Tree Service Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    Donald Keith Cathey
    Tracy    		 C-13 Fencing Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    Richard Steven Cahill
    Stockton    		 C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    Raul Ernie Corral, Jr
    Tracy    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising,
    Using the license of another
    Anthony Rodriguez
    Stockton    		 C-27 Landscaping Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    Martin Rodriguez
    Lathrop    		 C-27 Landscaping Contractor Contracting without a license
    Rudy Varvel
    Victor    		 D-49 Tree Service Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    Luis Manuel Sanchez Ramirez
    Lathrop    		 D-49 Tree Service Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    Jose Valente Malagon Torres
    Stockton    		 C-27 Landscaping Contractor Illegal advertising
    David Michael Smith
    Manteca    		 C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising

    DAY 2
    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE CLASSIFICATION ALLEGED VIOLATION
    Ronald Lynn Kilgore
    Manteca    		 C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    Carlos Luis Quiroz-Reyes
    Stockton    		 C-27 Landscaping Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    George Dias
    Stockton    		 B-General Building Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    David Marlon Newstrom
    Stockton    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising
    Andrew Jacob Billings
    Stockton    		 C-8 Concrete Contractor Contracting without a license,
    Illegal advertising

    The Contractors State License Board operates under the umbrella of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. CSLB licenses and regulates almost 290,000 contractors in California and is regarded as one of the leading consumer protection agencies in the United States. In fiscal year 2017-18, CSLB helped recover over $50 million in ordered restitution for consumers.


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