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Contractors State License Board undercover sting operation catches 11, including repeat offender
Many Lake County homeowners have faced rough times over the past few years as the county has been home to several deadly and destructive wildfires.
A lot of recent attention in the region is focused on protecting fire survivors from unlicensed contractors.
But that doesn’t mean area residents not impacted by the wildfires should forget to “check the license” before hiring licensed contractors for home improvement projects.
The recent Contractors State License Board undercover sting in Clearlake Oaks found 11 alleged unlicensed contractors, with one suspect making a $10,000 bid.
The highest bid of the Feb. 12 to 13 operation was to install fencing and was well over the legal limit for contracting without a license.
In California, it's illegal for an unlicensed person to bid for or perform any home improvement valued at $500 or more in combined labor and material costs.
The alleged unlicensed contractors gave bids for home improvement jobs, including landscaping, carpentry, tree service and painting.
They will be referred to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for 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.
CSLB partnered with the Lake County District Attorney’s Office to conduct the undercover operation.
Members of the CSLB Statewide Investigative Fraud Team, or SWIFT, posed as owners of a mobile home community clubhouse and invited alleged unlicensed contractors to place bids on renovation work.
One repeat offender was among those caught in the operation.
Ronald Dean Ridley was cited for illegal advertising in January 2016 and paid a $400 civil penalty.
In October 2018, Ridley was cited for contracting without a license at a prior sting in Lake County. That case is still pending with the Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
A conviction on that charge could subject Ridley to a more severe second conviction penalty, which could result in a mandatory 90 days in jail, and a fine of 20 percent of the contract price or $5,000, whichever is greater, according to Business and Professions Code Section 7028(c)).
Among those cited for illegal contracting, four were planning on providing tree services for the sting location.
“Tree trimming and removing is a highly skilled trade that could result in serious injury,” said CSLB Registrar David Fogt. “Illegal tree work can lead to property damage for consumers and could be potentially fatal for those who are not properly licensed.”
Besides holding a CSLB license, workers must also be covered with workers’ compensation insurance. Without it, a homeowner may be liable if for medical bills if someone gets hurt on their property. Since they weren’t legally licensed to do the work, a homeowner’s insurance policy might not apply.
A licensed contractor’s workers' compensation insurance information can easily be found on CSLB’s website using the “Instant License Check” feature.
Consumers can check a contractor’s license by searching their license number, name, or business name. Besides workers’ comp information, the search results also reveal whether the contractor’s license is active and in good standing. The contractor’s individual page also lists bond information, and if CSLB has taken any actions against the contractor’s license.
Seven individuals also could face a misdemeanor charge for illegal advertising. Unlicensed contractors must state in all ads that they do not have a license. The penalty for violating the advertising rules for unlicensed contractors is a fine of $700 to $1,000.
When hiring a contractor, consumers should also remember:
– Watch your down payment. The legal limit for a down payment is 10 percent of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is lower.
– You should always get three bids from licensed contractors before hiring anyone to perform home improvement work.
– Homeowners can use CSLB's “Find My Licensed Contractor” feature to build and download a list of qualified licensed contractors in their area.
– Those interested in getting a contractor license are encouraged to attend one of our licensing workshops.
All of the subjects were ordered to appear at the Lake County Superior Court on March 24 at 8:15 a.m.
The subjects and the violations alleged against them are listed below.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, DAY 1: Feb. 12, 2020
– Tommy Bruce Chisam, Clearlake Oaks; contracting without a license, landscaping.
– Ronald Dean Ridley Sr., Clearlake Oaks; illegal advertising, contracting without a license, carpentry.
– Jose Samuel Gamez-Meza, Clearlake; illegal advertising, contracting without a license, tree service.
– Servando Juarez Flores dba Pimentel's Yard Service, Clearlake; Illegal advertising, contracting without a license, fencing.
– Keith Walter Holmgren, Santa Rosa; illegal advertising, contracting without a license, tree service.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, DAY 2: Feb. 13, 2020
– Jeffrey Scott Wilder, Upper Lake; illegal advertising, contracting without a license, painting.
– Kristy Ann Buettner, Lakeport; contracting without a license, painting.
– Edilberto Lopez Perez, Kelseyville; illegal advertising, contracting without a license, carpentry.
– Rodney Jerome Gehlen Jr., Clearlake; contracting without a license, painting.
– Eric Michael Hamlin, Santa Rosa; illegal advertising, contracting without a license, tree service.
– Robert Lloyd Fouche, Santa Rosa; contracting without a license, tree service.