Stings Net 112

Investigators posed as business owners, landlords, homeowners or tenants at commercial properties and homes. They solicited bids for a variety of projects, ranging from landscaping, concrete, fencing, painting, and flooring to wrought iron and installation of a swimming pool safety fence.

Four different “stings” by the Contractors State License Board across Calif. have netted 112 would-be contractors for apparent violations of state contracting laws. The stings were set up in the city of Sacramento and in Yolo County in the Central Valley, as well as in Los Angeles, Riverside and Monterey counties.

Investigators primarily targeted those who were previously caught contracting without a license. Other targets were identified from advertisements in various local publications and online, and those identified from leads from local law enforcement or trade associations.
Six of the people arrested had been caught before.

But a majority of those contacted for bids said they either had gotten out of the business or the job sounded too big for them to perform.

Under California law, all contractors who perform work that totals $500 or more for labor and materials must be licensed by CSLB.