Arrests Made In Statewide Sting Operation For Unlicensed Contractors

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Authorities this week arrested more than 120 contractors for allegedly working without proper licenses during a statewide undercover sting operation.

Of the arrests, the so-called "California Blitz" operation conducted by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) netted six in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The board announced Friday that approximately 115 people are suspected of operating without a contractor's license.

They face a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $5,000 fine, if convicted, KNX 1070's Bob Brill reported.

Others are accused of charging excessive down payments.

The CSLB also reported that 19 crews were issued stop orders because they allegedly had no workers' compensation insurance.

"We would just encourage consumers to be very careful when you are to hire people to come out to your house to do a job," said Rick Lopes of the CSLB. "The best thing you can do is to make sure they have a contractor's license."

"If you have an illegal worker out there ... your insurance is not going to cover it,"' Lopes said, adding that homeowners could be made to pay the medical bills of anyone injured on their property.

Since Tuesday, fraud investigators posed as homeowners seeking bids on home improvement projects in nine areas across the state, according to the CSLB.

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