Monday, 10 September 2007 01:48

Pleas Entered by 8 In Contractor's Licensing Sting Op

slide4District Attorney Todd Riebe says eight people have entered guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges of contracting without a license.  The defendants were caught during an undercover sting investigation that took place earlier this summer by investigators from the Contractors State License Board, the Amador County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Insurance, Fraud Division and the Jackson Police Department.  At the sting house, located in Jackson,  investigators posed as homeowners and the defendants bid on various home improvement projects, including landscaping, painting, concrete work and fencing. Pleading guilty were   Edward L. Moore Jr., 41, of Sacramento, Touch of Class Carpentry, he was sentenced to 45 days in jail; a 2-thousand-dollar fine and 3-years formal probation. The following men, Norman L. Burton, 53, of Greenwood and Burton’s Painting.
Luis E. Curiel, 35, of Jackson.  Bruce D. Griffin, 52, of Mt. Ranch.   Steve O. Gonzales, 51, of Raymond W. Nelson, 51, of Placerville. Richard D. Ryans, 56, of Pioneer. Larry R. Upton, 61, of Somerset .  All sentenced to a  one-thousand-dollar fine and 2-years summary probation. The Contractors State License Board and the Amador County District Attorney’s Office urge consumers to follow these simple suggestions before hiring someone to remodel or repair your home: Hire Only Licensed Contractors.  Any contractor performing $500 worth of work or more (including materials and labor) must be licensed by the Contractors State License Board. Check a contractor’s license number on the Contractors State License Board website at www.cslb.ca.gov or call (800) 321-CSLB (2752). Verify Workers’ Compensation Insurance Coverage.  Employers are required to obtain a workers' compensation insurance policy to protect employees who may be injured on the job.  Check the status of a contractor’s workers’ compensation policy on the Contractors State License Board website at www.cslb.ca.gov. Get a Written Contract.  Don’t sign anything until you completely understand the terms.  Avoid making cash payments and don’t let payments get ahead of work.  Keep a file of all papers related to your project. Report Fraud.  Everyone suffers because of fraud.  Tax dollars are wasted, the price of consumer goods increase, and legitimate employers lose money.  To report unlicensed contracting activity or someone committing fraud, call the Contractors State License Board SWIFT Unit in Sacramento at (916) 255-2924 or the Amador County District Attorney’s Office at (209) 223-6562