Posted by: John_Hamilton on 01/24/2012 07:44 AM
Updated by: John_Hamilton on 01/24/2012 07:48 AM
Expires: 01/01/2017 12:00 AM
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Scammer on Felony Probation Snared in CSLB Sting
SACRAMENTO – Revoked Contractors State License Board (CSLB) licensee Brian Gross, 48, of Valley Springs, is back in the Amador County jail, this time with no bail. Gross was one of ten individuals caught in CSLB’s Statewide Investigative Fraud Team’s (SWIFT) undercover sting operation at a Pine Grove home on January 19, 2012. The sting was conducted with investigators from the Amador County District Attorney’s office...
 
Gross is no stranger to SWIFT. Investigators from SWIFT and the Amador County DA’s office arrested him on October 1, 2010. He pleaded guilty to one felony count of fraudulent use of a contractor license number and one misdemeanor count of failing to purchase workers’ compensation insurance for employees on March 2, 2011, and was sentenced to four years felony probation on May 5, 2011. CSLB revoked his general contractor license on June 1, 2010, for failure to pay administrative citations issued for asking for excessive down payments, failing to secure building permits, and other violations of contracting law. State law prohibits asking for or receiving a down payment larger than 10 percent of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less.
Brian Gross arrested January 19, 2012Investigators, posing as homeowners, sought bids for general construction and painting projects at the multi-level house on seven acres. The ten who bid more than the legal threshold of $500 for labor and materials will appear in court for contracting without a license. They will face an additional misdemeanor charge for illegal advertising. State law requires contractors to place their license number in all advertisements. Those who do home improvement jobs valued at less than $500 may advertise, but their ads must state that they are not a licensed contractor.
“Hopefully Mr. Gross and the others caught at the Pine Grove sting get the message that CSLB and the Amador County DA’s office take the state’s consumer protection laws very seriously,” said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. “California homeowners considering hiring a contractor should review Ten Tips to Make Sure Your Contractor Measures Up to familiarize themselves with contracting laws and their rights as consumers. Before signing a contract, they should consult CSLB’s online instant license check to ensure the contractor has a valid license and workers’ compensation insurance if they have employees.”
The nine suspects who received notices to appear are scheduled to be arraigned on March 19, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. in the Amador County Superior Court, 500 Argonaut Lane in Jackson :
Brian Gross' impounded vehicle
SUSPECTS NAME AND CITY
AGE
WORK
CLASS
VIOLATIONS
Ruben Cervantes Ayala
Placerville
44
General Construction
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
Matthew Martin Pederson
Rancho Cordova
28
Tree Services
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
Kenneth Jerell McCloud
Pioneer
65
General Construction
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
Richard Paul Reinoehl
Pine Grove
60
General Construction
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
Luis Fernando Leyva-Martinez
Placerville
36
Painting
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
Benjamin Joseph Smith
Pine Grove
22
General Construction
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
James Theo Cerles
Shingle Springs
63
General Construction
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
Steven David Garrett
Sutter Creek
53
General Construction
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
Kenneth Lawrence Griffin
Pine Grove
53
General Construction
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
Brian Gross
Valley Springs
48
General Construction
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
*Jailed without bail for violation of felony probation
CSLB urges consumers to follow these tips before hiring anyone to work on their home:
· Hire only licensed contractors and ask to see their license and a photo ID to verify their identity.
· Always check the license number on CSLB’s website at www.cslb.ca.gov or www.CheckTheLicenseFirst.com to make sure the license is in good standing.
· Don’t pay more than 10 percent or $1,000, whichever is less, as a down payment. There is an exception for about two dozen licensees who carry special bonds to protect consumers. These exceptions are noted on CSLB’s website.
· Don’t pay in cash, and don’t let payments get ahead of the work.
· Get at least three bids, check references, and get a written contract.
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 email alerts. CSLB licenses and regulates California's 300,000 contractors, and is regarded as one of the leading consumer protection agencies in the United States. In fiscal year 2010-11, CSLB helped recover nearly $45 million in ordered restitution for consumers.
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