CSLB Targets Unlicensed Contractors in Statewide December Sting

    Total of 46 Suspects Cited Across Five Counties

    SACRAMENTO - The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is warning consumers about the dangers of hiring an unlicensed contractor. The warning comes after CSLB conducted a series of coordinated sting operations over the past week across five California counties, resulting in citations for 46 suspected unlicensed contractors.

    CSLB joined partner law enforcement agencies on December 10-12, 2019 to conduct the sting, including El Dorado District Attorney's Office, Monterey County District Attorney's Office, Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office, Kern County District Attorney's Office, DCA Division of Investigations and the California Department of Insurance.

    The undercover operations took place at homes in Placerville (El Dorado County), Carmel (Monterey County), Reseda (Los Angeles County), San Bernardino (San Bernardino County), and Bakersfield (Kern County).

    Investigators from CSLB's Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) used newspaper and online ads as well as business cards to find people suspected of performing illegal contracting jobs. The suspects were asked to provide bids for home improvement jobs like painting, paving, flooring, tree trimming, insulation, concrete, and tile installation.

    During the operation, bids ranged from $700 for interior painting to more than $18,000 for concrete installation. State law requires a state-issued contractor license for construction or home repair work that totals $500 or more in materials and/or labor.

    Forty-five suspects who 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.

    "This holiday season, homeowners should realize that if they hire someone who's not licensed, they run a much bigger risk of getting ripped off," said CSLB Registrar David Fogt. "When consumers do their homework and hire a licensed contractor there are more protections in place to prevent problems."

    Consumers can check a contractor's license status by conducting an "Instant License Check" in a matter of seconds on CSLB's website by typing in the contractor's license number, name, or business name. The search results reveal whether or not the contractor's license is active and/or in good standing.

    Homeowners can also use CSLB's Find My Licensed Contractor feature to build and download a list of qualified licensed contractors in their area.

    In addition, 43 individuals could face an additional misdemeanor charge for their illegal advertisements. 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.

    Eleven people were also cited for not having workers' compensation (WC) insurance (Labor Code §3700.5), which puts workers at risk of not being covered if they are hurt on the job and exposes homeowners to liability for on-site injuries.

    If contractors don't have employees, they must file a workers' compensation exemption with CSLB, which is noted on the license record. The exception is for roofing contractors, who must carry workers' compensation insurance, whether they work solo or have employees (who also must be covered).

    Three others may be charged with requesting an illegally large down payment. California law (Business and Professions Code section 7159(a)(3)) states that a down payment cannot exceed $1,000 or 10% of the contract amount, whichever is less.

    One individual was using a CSLB license number that did not belong to them. They face a penalty for fraudulent use of an incorrect license number (Business and Professions Code (BPC § 7027.3). Those interested in getting a contractor license are encouraged to attend one of our licensing workshops.

    All suspects have been ordered to appear in court on various dates starting in February of 2020.

    STING NOTES (By Location)

    Placerville (El Dorado County)

    • 8 cases referred to District Attorney
    • Suspects due in court February 10, 2020

    Carmel (Monterey County)

    • 6 cases referred to District Attorney
    • One suspect emailed bid using license number that did not belong to him
    • Suspects due in court February 25-26, 2020

    Reseda (Los Angeles County)

    • 5 cases referred to District Attorney
    • Two repeat offenders cited in sting

    San Bernardino (San Bernardino County)

    • 11 cases referred to District Attorney
    • 11 suspects may be cited for illegal advertising
    • Suspects due in court April 15-16, 2020

    Bakersfield (Kern County)

    • 16 cases referred to District Attorney
    • 10 suspects may be cited for no workers' compensation
    • Suspects due in court February 11 & February 13, 2020

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

    Placerville (El Dorado County) DAY 1 - December 10, 2019

    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE
    CLASSIFICATION    		 ALLEGED
    VIOLATIONS
    Julian Hernandez
    Rio Linda    		 C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Sammy Garcia Mirada
    Sacramento    		 C-4 - Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fitting Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Cristi Lee Jones
    Folsom    		 C-6 - Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Jose Gustavo Diaz Lopez
    Sacramento    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, No workers' compensation
    John Isaac Harrod
    Placerville    		 C-2 - Insulation and Acoustical Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

    Placerville (El Dorado County) DAY 2 - December 11, 2019

    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE
    CLASSIFICATION    		 ALLEGED
    VIOLATIONS
    Juan Alberto DeLaFuente
    Sacramento    		 C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering Contractor Illegal advertising
    Andrew Mario Purcell
    Folsom    		 C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Aurelio Castro
    Carmichael    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

    Carmel (Monterey County) - DAY 1 - December 10, 2019

    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE
    CLASSIFICATION    		 ALLEGED
    VIOLATIONS
    John Richard Palsma
    Salinas    		 C-36 Plumbing Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, Fraudulent use of a license number, Excessive down payment
    Oswaldo Trigueros Ramirez
    Seaside    		 C-15 Flooring Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Alan Manuel Morales
    Seaside    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, Excessive down payment

    Carmel (Monterey County) - DAY 2 - December 11, 2019

    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE
    CLASSIFICATION    		 ALLEGED
    VIOLATIONS
    Jose Luis Mendoza Flores
    Moss Landing    		 C-13 Fencing Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Derek Levett Fowler
    Seaside    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, Excessive down payment
    Sergio Armando Cruz Santiago
    Hollister    		 C-8 Concrete Contracting without a license

    Reseda (Los Angeles County) - December 11, 2019

    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE
    CLASSIFICATION    		 ALLEGED
    VIOLATIONS
    Arley David Carter
    Lancaster    		 "B" - General Building contractors Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Jorge Fernandez-Hernandez
    Lancaster    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Jorge Larios-Garcia
    Los Angeles    		 "B" - General Building contractors Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Francisco Alberto Guerrero Palafox
    Pacoima    		 "B" - General Building contractors Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Edward Lynn Phillips
    Toledo, Ohio    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

    San Bernardino (San Bernardino County) - DAY 1 - December 11, 2019

    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE
    CLASSIFICATION    		 ALLEGED
    VIOLATIONS
    Juan Lopez Gomez
    Riverside    		 C-8 - Concrete Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Everardo Rosalind Rendon Ambrosio
    Pomona    		 C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Siaosi Pahulu
    Apple Valley    		 C-8 - Concrete Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Jesus Emmanuel Gutierre Castro
    Murrieta    		 C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Lorenzo Bacilio Francisco
    Riverside    		 C-8 - Concrete Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Kenny Kaman Lam
    Pomona    		 C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Robert Roger Al Gracia
    Redlands    		 C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

    San Bernardino (San Bernardino County) DAY 2 - December 12, 2019

    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE
    CLASSIFICATION    		 ALLEGED
    VIOLATIONS
    Rodrigo Montano Solorio
    Fountain Valley    		 C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Isaac Hernandez
    Corona    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Cristobal Jose Cristobal Diego
    Homeland    		 C-8 - Concrete Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
    Sergio Camacho Gutierrez
    Fontana    		 C-8 - Concrete Contractor Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

    Bakersfield (Kern County) DAY 1 - December 10, 2019

    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE
    CLASSIFICATION    		 ALLEGED
    VIOLATIONS
    Jose Luis Ayala-Vazquez
    Bakersfield    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising, No workers' compensation
    Eder Eligio Velazquez Peralta
    Ontario    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising, No workers' compensation
    Gerardo Campos Amador
    Bakersfield    		 C-23 Ornamental Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising, No workers' compensation
    Byron Rodolfo Alvarado
    Bakersfield    		 C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising, No workers' compensation
    Eric Anthony
    Bakersfield    		 C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising
    Maurice Legree
    Bakersfield    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising
    Alejandro Guzman Tapia
    Arvin    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising
    Victor Farias Jr.
    Bakersfield    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license

    Bakersfield (Kern County) DAY 2 - December 11, 2019

    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE
    CLASSIFICATION    		 ALLEGED
    VIOLATIONS
    Theodore William Forzetting
    Bakersfield    		 C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor Contracting without a license
    Ryan Paul Lucero
    Bakersfield    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising, No workers' compensation
    Luis Enrique Diaz Guillen
    Bakersfield    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising, No workers' compensation
    Jose Luis Tevelan Mejia
    Bakersfield    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising, No workers' compensation
    Daniel Benedict Cerna
    Bakersfield    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising, No workers' compensation
    Francisco Javier Aguilar-Diaz
    Bakersfield    		 C13 - Fencing Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising, No workers' compensation
    Raymond Richard Parks Jr
    Bakersfield    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor Contracting without a license, Illegal advertising, No workers' compensation
    Tony Choate
    Bakersfield    		 C-29 Masonry 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 more than 285,000 contractors in California and is regarded as one of the leading consumer protection agencies in the United States. In fiscal year 2018-2019, CSLB helped recover over $49 million in ordered restitution for consumers.


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