Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 10/28/2010 12:09 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 10/28/2010 12:09 PM
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00 AM
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CSLB Fall California Blitz Stings 111 for Unlicensed Contracting Sex offenders and revoked licensees among those caught bidding on home improvement jobs
SACRAMENTO – The Contractors State License Board’s (CSLB) fall “California Blitz” puts a glaring spotlight on the importance of making sure contractors are properly licensed before allowing them into your home. A total of 111 suspected unlicensed contractors were arrested during the two-day statewide undercover operation on October 20 and 21, 2010. Three of those arrested, including a convicted sex offender, went to jail.....
CSLB conducted nine simultaneous sting operations in Fresno, La Mesa, Pasadena, Placerville, Porterville, San Juan Capistrano, Seaside, Visalia, and West Sacramento.
During the Blitz, investigators from CSLB’s Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) posed as homeowners or community organization volunteers, asking for bids on projects that ranged from swimming pool repair to painting, landscaping, and tree trimming. Those who bid more than the legal limit of $500 for labor and materials received a Notice to Appear (NTA) in court for a misdemeanor charge of contracting without a license. Other charges included illegal advertising and soliciting excessive down payments. State law also requires contractors to put their license number in all forms of advertising. Those who are not licensed can advertise and do jobs valued at less than $500, but their ads must state that they are not a licensed contractor. Also, it is illegal to ask for a down payment greater than 10 percent of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. There is an exception for about two dozen licensees who purchase special bonds for consumer protection. Those exceptions are noted on CSLB’s website.
Three people were booked and taken to jail on outstanding warrants in West Sacramento and Placerville. Mardardo Flores, 31, of Woodland, was booked on a no bail warrant for violating probation by failing to register as a sex offender. José Antonio Anguiano, 28, of Sacramento, went to jail on a no bail warrant for felony domestic violence. Carl Borrowman, 47, of Placerville, was booked on a warrant for felony fraudulent use of a contractor license number (for contracting on a license that CSLB revoked from him in 2000). Since 2005, state law has required that applicants for new licenses or those changing their classifications submit fingerprints for criminal background checks.
“This Blitz is a wake-up call for all California consumers,” said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. “You must check out the people you’re going to hire to work on your home to make sure they’re properly licensed. Your family safety or your finances could be jeopardized by not taking a few minutes to verify the contractor on CSLB’s website or through our toll-free phone system.”
Consumers often don’t realize the risk they run when hiring an unlicensed operator. Because these phony contractors don't carry workers’ compensation insurance, the homeowner could be liable if a worker gets hurt on the job. Also, if something goes wrong or the project is abandoned, homeowners have few options for getting back their money.
The goal of CSLB’s twice-yearly blitz is to educate consumers about potential dangers of hiring phony contractors, and to encourage people who want to work in the construction trades and who qualify to get their contractor license to comply with California law. Local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies, as well as the California Department of Insurance, Department of Industrial Relations, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement assisted CSLB with the Fall Blitz.
“The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office is always anxious to work with other agencies to ensure compliance with the law,” said Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig. “We’ll make every effort to get these people into compliance and to ensure the public is safeguarded.”
In addition to the stings, CSLB investigators, along with investigators from the Department of Industrial Relations and Department of Insurance, also conducted sweep operations at construction sites in Solano and Riverside Counties. These sweeps were to verify that contractors were properly licensed and carried the necessary insurance. A number of citations were issued to contractors for not carrying workers’ compensation insurance.
The following are highlights from the Blitz:
Location
Agencies Participating
Highlights
Fresno
Fresno County
Fresno County District Attorney’s Office
Department of Insurance
Two-day operation (10/20-21/10)
12 notices to appear December 14, 2010, 8:30 a.m., Fresno County Superior Court, 1100 Van Ness, Fresno
La Mesa
San Diego County
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
La Mesa Police Department
Department of Insurance
One-day operation (10/21/10)
9 notices to appear December 8 and 9, 2010, 8:30 a.m., San Diego County Superior Court East County Regional Center, 250 East Main Street, El Cajon
Pasadena
Los Angeles County
Pasadena City Attorney
Pasadena Police Department
Department of Insurance
Two-day operation (10/20-21/10)
14 notices to appear December 20 and 21, 2010, 8:30 a.m., Los Angeles County Superior Court, 300 East Walnut Street, Department N, Pasadena
2 booked, fingerprinted for ID purposes, and released
Placerville
El Dorado County
El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office
Placerville Police Department
Department of Insurance
Two-day operation (10/20-21/10)
17 notices to appear at a time and date to be determined later, El Dorado County Superior Court, 495 Main Street, Placerville
1 arrested for using revoked contractor license.
2 administrative citations unlicensed contracting and illegal advertising
Porterville
Tulare County
Porterville Police Department
Department of Insurance
Department of Homeland Security
One-day operation (10/21/10)
9 notices to appear December 1, 2010, 8:00 a.m., Tulare County Superior Court, 87 E. Morton, Porterville
2 booked for deportation
San Juan Capistrano
Orange County
Orange County District Attorney’s Office
Orange County Sheriff
Two-day operation (10/20-21/10)
21 notices to appear January 20, 2011, 8:30 a.m., Orange County Superior Court Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center West, Santa Ana
Seaside
Monterey County
Monterey County District Attorney’s Office
Department of Insurance
One-day operation (10/20/10)
9 Notices to Appear December 3, 2010, 8:15 a.m., Monterey County Superior Court, 230 Church Street, Salinas
Visalia
Tulare County
Department of Insurance
Department of Homeland Security
One-day operation (10/20/10)
7 notices to appear December 8, 2010, 8:00 a.m., Tulare County Superior Court, 425 East Kern Street, Tulare
1 administrative citation to licensee contracting on suspended license and filing false exemption to avoid purchasing workers’ compensation coverage
1 booked for deportation
West Sacramento
Yolo County
Yolo County District Attorney’s Office
Department of Industrial Relations
Department of Insurance
Two-day operation (10/20-21/10)
13 notices to appear January 19, 2011, 8:30 a.m., Yolo County Superior Court, 213 Third Street, Woodland
1 arrested on Yolo County no bail warrant for violating probation and failing to register as a sex offender. 1 arrested on no bail warrant for domestic violence in Sacramento County.
2 administrative citations; 1 for failure to carry workers’ compensation coverage, 1 for illegal advertising
6 citations issued by DIR for workers’ comp violations
The Contractors State License Board operates under the umbrella of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. More information and publications about hiring contractors are available on the CSLB website or by calling 800-321-CSLB (2752). You can also sign up for CSLB e-mail alerts at www.cslb.ca.gov. CSLB licenses and regulates California's more than 300,000 contractors, and is regarded as one of the leading consumer protection agencies in the United States. In fiscal year 2009-10, CSLB helped recover nearly $42 million in ordered restitution for consumers.
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