More than a Dozen Caught in CSLB Riverside County Sting Proves Need to "Check The License First"

    Fifteen cited for alleged illegal contracting, including eleven for illegal advertising, and three for excessive down payment

    SACRAMENTO – On November 14-15, 2018, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) went undercover in Canyon Lake to catch unlicensed contractors placing high bids on home improvement projects. As a result, 15 people were issued notices to appear in court to answer charges of alleged illegal contracting. These citations serve as a warning to unlicensed contractors to get their license and as a reminder to homeowners to always hire a licensed contractor.

    With help from the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, CSLB Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) members posed as homeowners and invited suspected unlicensed contractors to bid on projects at a single-family home near Roy W. Kabian Memorial Park. They compiled a list of individuals from online advertisements on popular social media and job posting sites, and business cards posted at local hardware stores.

    Suspects were invited to the home to bid on work they claimed to specialize in through their advertisements. Bids ranged from $1,600 for building a wrought iron fence to $30,000 for installing synthetic turf.

    In California, it's illegal for an unlicensed person to perform contracting work on any type of home improvement 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 successive violations.

    "People will promote themselves as having years of contracting experience, but without the proper license there's no-way of telling whether or not the person is qualified or insured," said CSLB Registrar Dave Fogt. "That's why it's important for consumers do their research and hire only licensed contractors for home improvement jobs. Homeowners can also conduct a search on CSLB's website to find licensed contractors in their area using our free 'Find My Licensed Contractor' website feature."

    Eleven suspects could face additional fines for their alleged illegal advertisements (BPC §7027.1). State law requires unlicensed contractors to reference in all advertising that they are not licensed, and licensed contractors must list their license number. Conviction of this violation could result in a fine of up to $1,000.

    In addition, three of the bidders required an excessive down payment before starting work and were also written-up for that violation. It is illegal for contractors to ask for more than 10 percent down or $1,000, whichever is less (BPC §7159.5 (a)(3)(b)).

    All offenders were ordered to appear in court at 7:30 a.m. on February 13-14, 2019, at the Riverside County Superior Court, 4050 Main St., Riverside, CA 92501.

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

    DAY 1 - CANYON LAKE
    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE CLASSIFICATION ALLEGED VIOLATION
    Ruben Nava
    Hemet    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contracting Without a License,
    Illegal Advertising
    Manuel Guzman Retana
    Perris    		 C-8 Concrete Contractor Contracting Without a License,
    Illegal Advertising,
    Excessive Down Payment
    Jose Manuel Campos
    Perris    		 C-23 Ornamental Metal Contractor Contracting Without a License,
    Excessive Down Payment
    Leocadio Almazan Martinez
    Anaheim    		 C-8 Concrete Contractor Contracting Without a License,
    Illegal Advertising
    Jared Dee Ringwood
    Menifee    		 D-12 Synthetic Products Contractor Contracting Without a License,
    Illegal Advertising
    Sanghoon Lee
    Temecula    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contracting Without a License,
    Illegal Advertising

    DAY 2 - CANYON LAKE
    SUSPECT NAME
    CITY OF RESIDENCE    		 LICENSE CLASSIFICATION ALLEGED VIOLATION
    Emmanuel Batista Vitte
    Murrieta    		 D-12 Synthetic Products Contractor Contracting Without a License,
    Illegal Advertising
    Francisco Vazquez Jr.
    Lake Elsinore    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contracting Without a License,
    Illegal Advertising
    Robert Neil Yohe
    Sidney, Montana    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contracting Without a License,
    Illegal Advertising,
    Excessive Down Payment
    Harvey William Nelson III
    Lake Elsinore    		 C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor Contracting Without a License
    Aaron Brown
    Chester, New York    		 C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor Contracting Without a License
    William Avilez
    Hemet    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contracting Without a License,
    Illegal Advertising
    Angel Ruiz Ruiz
    Menifee    		 C-8 Concrete Contractor Contracting Without a License,
    Illegal Advertising
    Ramon Villasenor
    Homeland    		 C-8 Concrete Contractor Contracting Without a License
    Juan L. Mendoza Franco
    Murrieta    		 C-33 Painting and Decorating Contracting Without a License,
    Illegal Advertising

    CSLB encourages consumers to always "check the license first" before hiring a contractor by visiting www.cslb.ca.gov or by calling 800-321-CSLB (2752). CSLB has introduced a new website feature to help consumers start their search for a licensed contractor. The new "Find My Licensed Contractor" feature enables users to build a list of all licensed contractors, sorted by trade, in a specific geographic area.

    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 2016-17, CSLB helped recover over $47 million in ordered restitution for consumers.


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