Joint CA and NV sting operations net 16 people posing as contractors

Sting operations in Zephyr Cove and South Lake Tahoe caught 16 people posing as licensed contractors. The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) teamed with the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) in South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday, May 16, and the following day in Zephyr Cove, Nevada.

Both states have some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the nation, something those accused have found out as they face charges from advertising without a license to contracting without a license/illegal advertising/illegally large down payment/no worker's compensation insurance. Penalties for first-time unlicensed contracting convictions include up to six months in jail and/or up to $5,000 in fines.

Investigators posed as a homeowner and solicited home improvement bids from alleged unlicensed contractors.

In the California sting, ten people were caught and now face the misdemeanor charges. Bids ranged from $1,100 for tile to $20,000 for installation of concrete pavers. It is against California law to contract for home improvement or construction jobs valued at $500 or more for labor and materials combined without a state-issued contractor license.

Eight of the 10 suspects were also given a Notice to Appear in court for illegal advertising.

Three of the 10 brought workers with them to the sting house and were given stop orders and cited for not having workers' compensation insurance for those workers; two of the 10 could face charge for requesting an illegally large down payment. In California, down payments for home improvement jobs cannot total more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever amount is less.

Investigators also swept through 31 jobs sites in the South Lake Tahoe area. The sweep will result in three cases being referred to the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office. Two will be referred for contracting without a license; the third for a worker's compensation insurance violation. Three stop orders and one administrative citation also were issued.

"Enforcement operations like this are just one way our two Boards work closely together throughout the year," said CSLB Registrar David R. Fogt. "Our staffs are constantly talking, working investigations together, and passing along information to each other regarding suspected criminals moving back and forth between California and Nevada."

"These joint sting operations demonstrate Nevada's and California's shared commitment to protecting homeowners from unlicensed individuals," NSCB Executive Officer Margi Grein said. "When they hire unlicensed contractors, property owners are stripped of the protections and recourses available via the Board's full authority and resources."

Six people were caught in the Nevada sting. Four were cited for contracting without a license; two of those were also cited for advertising without a license. Two others were cited only for advertising without a license.

A Nevada state contractor's license is needed for all home improvement jobs that exceed $1000 in labor and material, require a building permit, involve plumbing, electrical, heating or air conditioning, or changes the aesthetic appearance or structural components of a building or property grounds.

The two states also have a reciprocity agreement, making it easier for a contractor licensed in one state, to get a contractor's license in the other.

The suspects listed below, who were caught in the California sting, are scheduled to appear on July 18, 2018, in El Dorado County Superior Court in South Lake Tahoe.

California Sting Arrests
(Name, Hometown, license classification, alleged violation)

Andrew James Davis,Carson City, Nevada, C-15 Flooring Contractor,Contracting w/o a License, Illegal Advertising

Symon Cleonvernie Sears, Carson City, Nevada,C-15 Flooring Contractor, Contracting w/o a License, Illegal Advertising

Eduardo Martinez-Medina, Sparks, Nevada, C-54 Tile Contractor, Contracting w/o a License, Illegal Advertising

Carlos Romero, Sun Valley, Nevada, C-61/D-6 Concrete Related Services Contractor, Contracting w/o a License, Illegal Advertising

Frank Anthony Euronis, Reno, Nevada, C-13 Fencing Contractor, Contracting w/o a License, No Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Shawn Brown, South Lake Tahoe, California, C-13 Fencing Contractor, Contracting w/o a License

Alberto Ruiz-Lopez, Carson City, Nevada, C-61/D-6 Concrete Related Services Contractor, Contracting w/o a License, Illegal Advertising, Illegally Large Down Payment, No Workers’ Compensation Insurance

James Raymond Williams III, South Lake Tahoe, California, C-33 Painting Contractor Contracting w/o a License, Illegal Advertising, No Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Steven Anthony Nichols, South Lake Tahoe, California, C-61/D-49 Tree Service Contractor, Contracting w/o a License, Illegal Advertising

Leo James Pasquarello, Sparks, Nevada, C-61/D-6 Concrete Related Services Contractor, Contracting w/o a License, Illegal Advertising, Illegally Large Down Payment

Nevada Sting Arrests
(Name, Hometown, license classification, alleged violation)

Alberto Ruiz-Lopez, Carson City, Nevada Multiple, Advertising w/o a License

Rigoberto Gonzalez, Incline Village, Nevada, Painting, Contracting w/o a License

Javier Tinoco, Incline Village, Nevada, Painting, Contracting w/o a License

Elmer Vazquez, Sparks, Nevada, Painting, Contracting w/o a License, Advertising w/o a License

Steven Rose, Carson City, Nevada, Painting, Advertising w/o a License

Gershon BenChaim, Reno/Sparks, Nevada, Garage Door, Contracting w/o a License,
Advertising w/o a License

CSLB urges consumers to follow these tips when dealing with a building contractor:

Only hire contractors who have an “active” CSLB license, and ask to see the contractor’s plastic pocket license
Don't hire the first contractor who comes along
Don't rush into repairs, no matter how badly they're needed
Verify the contractor's license at www.cslb.ca.gov or 1-800-321-CSLB (2752)
Don't pay more than 10 percent or $1,000, whichever is less, as a down payment
Don’t sign over any insurance checks to a contractor
Don't pay cash, and don't let the payments get ahead of the work
Get three bids, check references, and get a written contract
Contact CSLB if you have a complaint against a contractor, or if you’ve been solicited by someone who isn’t licensed
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 about $47 million in ordered restitution for consumers.