Six suspected unlicensed contractors busted in Carmel as part of statewide sting

CARMEL, Calif. (KION) Six suspected unlicensed contractors were busted in Carmel as part of a statewide operation, according to the Contractors State License Board.

They were a few of the 46 suspected unlicensed contractors cited in five California counties over the past week. The others were cited in El Dorado, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Kern counties.

They were found during undercover operations in homes in each of the counties. The CSLB said suspects were asked to give bids for home improvement jobs, and bids ranged from $700 for interior painting to more than $18,000 for concrete installation. A contractor license is required for construction or home repair work that costs more than $500 in materials and/or labor.

In Carmel, six suspected unlicensed contractors were found. The CSLB said one of them emailed a bid using a license number that did not belong to him. Their court dates are set on Feb. 25 and 26, 2020.

The suspects and their alleged violations are:

• John Richard Palsma- contracting without a license, illegal advertising, fraudulent use of a license number and excessive down payment
• Oswaldo Trigueros Ramirez- contracting without a license and illegal advertising
• Alan Manuel Morales- contracting without a license, illegal advertising and excessive down payment
• Jose Luis Mendoza Flores- contracting without a license and illegal advertising
• Derek Levett Fowler- contracting without a license, illegal advertising and excessive down payment
• Sergio Armando Cruz Santiago- contracting without a license

Licensed contractors are required to show their license number in all advertisements, and unlicensed contractors must say in all ads that they do not have a licensed. Eleven of the 46 were also cited for not having workers' compensation insurance. Three are facing charges of asking for n excessive down payment because it cannot be more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract amount, whichever is less.

“This holiday season, homeowners should realize that if they hire someone who’s not licensed, they run a much bigger risk of getting ripped off,” said CSLB Registrar David Fogt. “When consumers do their homework and hire a licensed contractor there are more protections in place to prevent problems.”

Homeowners can check a license status by conducting an instant license check. They can also use the CSLB's Find My Licensed Contractor search.