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:
|
SUSPECTS NAME
|
WORK CLASS |
VIOLATIONS
|
|
Ruben Zavala Gonzalez |
Landscaping |
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising |
|
Oscar Rojas Segura
|
Landscaping |
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising |
|
Juan Manuel Lopez Gomez
|
Landscaping |
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising |
|
John Michael Troccoli
|
Painting |
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising |
|
Eric James Brown
|
Framing and Rough Carpentry |
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising *Accompanied by Tyson McKenrick who was arrested for violating probation from a prior burglary conviction* |
|
Juan Carlos Martinez-Munoz |
Painting |
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising |
|
Michael D. Abbey
|
Painting |
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising *On probation for theft* |
|
Andrew James Bowen
|
Framing and Rough Carpentry |
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising |
|
Daniel Allen Brown |
Framing and Rough Carpentry |
Contracting without a license |
|
John Thomas Saites |
Painting |
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising |
|
Alonzo Sanchez-Ruelas |
Landscaping |
Contracting without a license, illegal advertising |
The following suspects were cited in the Nevada sting operation:
|
SUSPECTS NAME AND BUSINESS
|
WORK CLASS |
VIOLATIONS
|
|
Sean Hilla Amazing Handyman Services |
Painting and Carpentry |
Contracting without a license |
|
Michael Gonzales |
Painting and Carpentry |
Contracting without a license, advertising without a license |
|
Edward Polaske Tahoe Technicians |
Carpentry |
Contracting without a license |
|
Dan Chandler Top-Notch Home Repairs |
Electrical and Plumbing |
Contracting without a license, advertising without a license |
|
Micky McFarren
|
Carpet and Carpentry |
Contracting without a license, advertising without a license |
Awesome. Great work.
Ditto.
Electrical and Plumbing that one could turn into a horror, add framing.
Jail birds,another horror
DOUBLE DITTO,
Those of us that keep our license and bonds current thank you.
Cool, about time! How about all the contractors that do not have workers comp and under bid all jobs? They have guys working for them for years.
As a legal contractor ( liability ins, workers comp,local taxes paid in full). I do have to say California should raise the $500 amount for work performed to say $1,500! Time are tough in the construction industry and everybody has to eat.
A non compliant competitor just cost me $400 on a bid last week, he had no workers comp but has been working for 4 years without it. Time to get it right Bro.
And we local guys do not Rat on one another, but man you guys that are advertising you can do anything and everything this has got to stop, most of your work is inadequate.
Just tired of the same old local guys not playing fair and getting away with it. At least have enough respect to stop advertising your prices and services if you are not legal.