State board cites 13 unlicensed contractors in Fresno Craigslist sting

Oct. 01--Investigators with the Contractors State License Board cited 13 people for illegally contracting without a license in a two-day sting operation in Fresno after reaching out to handymen advertising on the free classified-ad site Craigslist.org.

During the Sept. 24-25 undercover sting at a house near the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, investigators posed as homeowners and called 18 Craigslist advertisers to seek bids on work including interior painting, flooring, concrete and fencing. The bids received ranged from $912 to $2,800. State law requires anyone contracting for home improvements valued at more than $500 in labor and materials must have a contractors license.

Of the 18 advertisers, only three were found to be operating legally. The other 15 are accused of contracting without a license. Thirteen have already been cited; two other didn't provide bids to investigators, but will be charged with misdemeanor offenses if they do submit bids later. Three face charges of not carrying workers compensation insurance for their employees. Investigators said 12 of the advertisers will be cited for illegal advertising because state law requires contractors to include their license number in all of their advertising; contractors who don't have a license can seek work worth less than $500, but their ads must note that they are unlicensed.

Those cited are expected to show up in Fresno County Superior Court in mid-November.

"Many of the suspects who are caught in sting operations have been unable to get a (contractors) license because of a criminal background," CSLB registrar Steve Sands said.

This sting represented the third time that one contractor, Sean Willis of Fresno, has been cited. Willis, who advertised under the heading "Fresno Craftsman," allegedly bid for ceramic and mosaic tile work without a license and was also cited for illegal advertising.

The Fresno County District Attorney's Office, the state Department of Industrial Relations and the California Highway Patrol aided the undercover sting operation.

Customers who want to check the license status of a would-be contractor can call the Contractors State License Board toll-free, automated phone service at (800) 321-2757 or visit the agency's website at www.cslb.ca.gov/.

Contact Tim Sheehan: [email protected], (559) 441-6319 or @TimSheehanNews on Twitter.

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