www.cslb.ca.gov | CheckTheLicenseFirst.com | SeniorScamStopper.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18, 2012
CSLB #12-01
CSLB Media Contacts
Rick Lopes
Chief of Public Affairs
916.947.8828
rlopes@cslb.ca.gov
Melanie Bedwell
Public Information Officer
916.255.4717
mbedwell@cslb.ca.gov
Venus Stromberg
Public Information Officer
Spanish Language Media
916.860.9431
vstromberg@cslb.ca.gov
CSLB Fresno Sting Sends 21 to Court for Ripping Off Consumers
Unlicensed, uninsured construction activity targeted during two-day undercover operation
SACRAMENTO – Most of the 21 individuals caught by the Contractors State License Board’s (CSLB) Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) during an undercover sting operation at a Fresno County home near Fig Garden on January 11 and 12, 2012, were found to be illegally charging excessive up-front payments. The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, Employment Development Department, California Highway Patrol, and the Fresno Police Special Investigations Bureau assisted in the two-day operation.
Tips from the Central California Better Business Bureau, as well as suspected illegal print and online advertisements, helped identify the illegal operators. Investigators posed as homeowners, and contacted the suspected non-licensees, seeking bids for plumbing, painting, tree trimming, fencing, landscaping, and general construction projects. The 21 suspects who bid more than $500 for labor and materials received notices to appear in court for contracting without a license, in violation of California Business and Professions (B&P) Code section 7028. Contractors are also required to place their state contractor license number in all advertisements, under B&P Code section 7027.1.
Sixteen individuals solicited more than the legal down payment amount (10 percent of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less) and will face additional charges for violating B&P Code section 7159.5 (a)(3)(b). The district attorney will also charge five of the sting suspects for failure to have workers’ compensation insurance coverage for their employees, in violation of Labor Code section 3700.5.
Two suspects are not strangers to CSLB. Hilario Ortiz, 52, of Larry’s Flooring and Home Repair in Fresno, said he was “through.” Ortiz was caught in two CSLB stings in 2010. James Lawrence Campbell, 40, of Fresno, had an outstanding warrant for not showing up for sentencing after entering a plea of contracting without a license and illegal advertising in a prior case. Unlicensed fencing contractor Martin Mendoza, 35, of Fresno, is a registered sex offender. Since 2005, state law has required that those applying for new licenses or an additional license classification must submit fingerprints for a Department of Justice background check.
“Before looking for a home improvement contractor, consumers should review CSLB’s easy-to-read 10 Tips to Making Sure Your Contractor Measures Up flyer, which is available in English, Spanish, and several other languages on our website,” said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. “The next step should be to check the license online or through our toll-free number to be sure the contractor meets state standards in the appropriate trade, follows state laws, and has workers’ compensation coverage for employees. The last thing a homeowner wants is to be financially responsible for a contractor’s employee who is hurt while working on their property because the employer didn’t carry workers’ compensation insurance.”
The following suspects, cited the first day of CSLB’s operation, are scheduled for arraignment on February 28, 2012, in Fresno County Superior Court, 1100 Van Ness Avenue:
DAY 1:
SUSPECT’S NAME, BUSINESS, AND CITY
AGE
WORK
CLASS
VIOLATIONS
Alvaro DeZubiria, Jr.
Mainstream Plumbing
Fresno
58
Plumbing
Use of a license number not issued to the individual, contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment
Manuel Madera
Fresno
43
Painting
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment
James Lawrence Campbell
Fresno
41
Painting
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment
*Warrant on prior CSLB case
Willie Ed Johnson, Jr.
Fresno
51
General Construction
Contracting without a license, soliciting excessive down payment
Johnny Griego Garcia
Fresno
63
Tree Services
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment
Johnny Guerrero Garcia, Jr.
Fresno
43
Tree Services
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment, no workers’ comp
Redwine Thornten Carroll,II
R.T.C.2
Clovis
51
General Construction
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment
Martin Mendoza
Mendoza Fencing
Fresno
35
Fencing
Contracting without a license, no workers’ comp
*Registered sex offender
Luis Luz-Gonzales
Fresno
27
Painting
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment, no workers’ comp
Juventino Espinoza
Cutler
43
Landscaping
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment
Anthony Michael Romero
Kingsburg
32
Concrete
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
Individuals cited the second day of CSLB’s operation are scheduled for arraignment on March 6 and 13, 2012, in Fresno County Superior Court, 1100 Van Ness Avenue:
DAY 2:
SUSPECT’S NAME, BUSINESS, AND
CITY
AGE
WORK
CLASS
VIOLATIONS
Antonio Arnaldo Lemus
Custom Painting
Fresno
47
Painting
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment, no workers’ comp
Brian Karl Craighead
Home Projects and Repair
Auberry
36
General Construction
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment
Gilbert Joseph Bustos
Handy Man Services
Fresno
60
Painting
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment, no workers’ comp
Matthew Wayne Leazer
Fresno
48
General Construction
Contracting without a license, soliciting excessive down payment
Ricardo Guizar-Reyes
Fresno
36
Plumbing
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising
Hilario Ortiz
Larry’s Flooring & Home Repair
Fresno
52
General Construction
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment
Travis David Hensley
Fresno
22
Tree Services
Contracting without a license
Donato Joaquin Canzio
Fresno
28
General Construction
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment
Sergio Abel Cuevas
Fresno
26
Painting
Contracting without a license
Jose Francisco Perez
Fresno
23
Painting
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment
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.
# # #
This email was sent because you subscribed to the email alert feature on the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) website, www.cslb.ca.gov, or because you earlier indicated an interest in receiving CSLB materials electronically. Your email address is not shared with third party sources. To unsubscribe, please visit our unsubscribe page.
Copyright © 2012
Like us
on Facebook
Follow Us
on Twitter
Tune In
on YouTube