Date/Time Written:

10/30/200918:57

Type of Incident:

Unlicensed Contractor Sting

Date/Time of Incident:

10/28/200908:00

Location of Incident:

42000 block of Meadowlark Ridge, Murrieta, CA

Reporting Officer:

Sgt. Sandra O'Donnell

Reporting Officer Phone:

951-461-6369

File Number:

093010034, 093020035

Incident Summary

On October 28^th and 29^th 2009, the Murrieta Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team and members of the Contractors State License Board, Southern Statewide Investigative Fraud Team Unit (SWIFT), conducted an unlicensed contractor sting in the City of Murrieta.  Any contractor performing $500 worth of work or more (including materials and labor) must be licensed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) to work in California.

The proactive enforcement was conducted to minimize the criminal activity involving construction and home improvement work by non-licensed contractors. The criminal activity involved may include: the Unlawful Advertising for Work Requiring a Contractor’s License, Acting in the Capacity of a Contractor without a License, the Unlawful use of and/or Misrepresentation of a Contractor’s License Number Which Belongs to Another, Fraud and Embezzlement.

20 contractors were given citations for Advertising for Construction or Work Improvements without a Valid Contractors License and Engaging in the Business or Acting in the Capacity of a Contractor within the State of California without a Contractor’s License.  18 of these contractors were released from the location in the 42000 block of Meadowlark Ridge, Murrieta, CA

One 33 year old Riverside resident was arrested and booked at the Southwest Detention Center for using a contractor's license not belonging to him.  One 30 year old Arcadia resident was booked for a 40,000 Embezzlement warrant out of Torrance, CA.  One adult male was not arrested, but issued an Administrative Citation for an expired contractor's license.  One male subject ran from investigators after learning he was to be arrested.  The 35 year old Sonora Mexico resident was in the United State illegally for drug trafficking.  The Sonora Mexico resident was questioned by the U.S. Border Patrol and deported. 

To verify the information provided by the bidding contractor, you may log onto the Internet at www.cslb.ca.gov or by calling 800-321-CSLB (2752).  On this Web site you can find educational materials about hiring contractors and the construction process. You can also check the status of a contractor's license, find other important Contractors License Law information and file a complaint.