Unlicensed contractors nabbed in Napa sting

By MARSHA DORGAN, Register Staff Writer

Manuel Gomez looked stunned and confused as two Napa police detectives put him under arrest just as he clenched a contractor job with what he thought was a Napa homeowner.

Gomez, 37, of Santa Rosa was one of the seven unlicensed contractors busted on Thursday in Napa during a sting operation conducted by agents with the California Contractor License Board.

The sting was prompted by the recent New Year's Eve flood that did an estimated $115 million in damages to residential homes and businesses in Napa County.

"When there is a natural disaster, it brings unlicensed contractors from all over trying to make a quick buck from homeowners who have been victims of the disaster," said Carl Vega, assistant chief with the special investigation unit of the board. "We have done sting operations in Napa before. We were here in Napa in the 2000 earthquake.

"In California, the underground economy cost unsuspecting home and business owners from $60 (billion) to $160 billion a year," Vega said. "And the largest part of that is unlicensed contractors."

Vega said these people prey on victims of disaster. "They don't have the skills to do work that meets the codes, and many times, they take huge down payments for work and skip the area."

In California, any contractor who is paid more than $500 for a job, must be licensed by the state board.

When an area is declared a national disaster, it is a felony for an unlicensed contractor to take a job that pays more than $500.

The board does sting operations on companies or individuals it has received complaints about.

"We do at least one a week. We also develop our own leads and check out false advertisements in the newspapers," Vega said. "We don't just wait for complaints to come to us. We want to go out and find the bad guys."

Unless the person has warrants or a history of complaints filed against him, board investigators usually cite and release the contractor violator with his promise to appear in court.

"Out-of-state contractors are not allowed to do business in California in areas that have been declared a national disaster," Vega said. "We snag one of them, and it's a trip to jail."

Thursday's sting was done at a home in the Napa downtown area.

"The homeowner contacted us after she got a business card from a contractor who was soliciting door to door," Vega said. "She had been ripped off prior to the flood, so she was glad to let us use her house."

Gomez got a break. He was one of the unlicensed contractors to be cited and released.

After allowing the investigators to search his vehicle, senior investigator Jeff Miller explained to Gomez what was going on.

Gomez had given the undercover agents -- who he thought were the homeowners -- a bid of $11,200 to fix what he thought was flood damage to the home.

"I'm glad you have a business license and permits, but that has nothing to do with us. You need to get a contractor's license," Miller said, handing Gomez an application packet. "If you plead guilty when you go to court and you have started the procedure to get your license, the judge may tell you to come back when you get your license and show it to him. But he many not. If you fail to appear in court, you will be fined $1,000 and a warrant will be issued for your arrest. You got a break here today. So don't blow your court date."

Once the handcuffs were taken off, Gomez was escorted from the house by Vega.

"Don't come back here again Mr. Gomez unless you have your contractor's license. And don't tell anyone what we are doing here today. This is a police operation, and I don't want to see you get arrested," Vega said.

Homeowners who hire unlicensed contractors are looking for potential problems.

If workers are injured on the job, they can sue the owner for medical bills, since unlicensed contractors are not covered by state worker's compensation. Also unlicensed contractors are not insured for the work they do. So, if they damage property while doing a job, the homeowner will have to try to recuperate the losses through homeowners insurance.

The state contractors board recommends property owners get at least three bids, ask to see the contractor's license and be very leery of door-to-door solicitors claiming to be contractors.

Information is available at the board's Web site at www.cslb.ca.gov

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