Blitz nets 16 phony contractors on South Shore

Sixteen contractors on the South Shore were accused operating without proper licenses by either the California Contractors State License Board or Nevada State Contractors Board during a simultaneous enforcement operation.

The individuals are accused of contracting without a license and related violations of home improvement contracting law. The sting operations were conducted at a single family home in the Tallac Park area of South Lake Tahoe, while the other was in a vacant business property in a Stateline strip mall.

Investigators on May 16 posed as property owners who were seeking bids for carpentry, painting, and landscaping. Suspects who bid more than the legal limit for labor and materials were issued a notice to appear in Superior Court.

It is against California law to contract for home improvement or construction jobs valued at $500 or more for labor and materials without a state-issued contractor license. In Nevada, it is illegal to contract for such jobs valued at more than $1,000. California law also requires licensees to place their license number in all forms of advertising. Those who work on jobs valued at less than $500 may advertise their services, but those ads must state that they are not a licensed contractor. Nevada prohibits anyone without a trade license to advertise for services. California and Nevada have a reciprocity agreement, which simplifies the application process for contractors licensed in one state who want to seek a license in the other.

Individuals on probation for theft and burglary were among those who bid on the Lake Tahoe area projects. Michael D. Abbey, who bid on a painting job at the California sting site, was on probation for theft. Tyson McKenrick accompanied Eric James Brown, who bid on cabinetry work at the South Lake Tahoe house. DCA investigators transported McKenrick to jail on a probation violation on a prior burglary conviction.

The following suspects will be arraigned in El Dorado County Superior Court in South Lake Tahoe and will be contacted later about their future court date:

The following suspects were cited in the Nevada sting operation: