Responding to complaints of construction related fraud from illegitimate businesses, consumers and local building departments, Investigators of the Contractor State License Board, State Wide Investigator Fraud Team and the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office joined forces and conducted a two day, two city, undercover sting/sweep operation with a force of 16 law enforcement Investigators.

For the “Sting” operation, undercover Investigators, posing as homeowners, telephoned, e-mailed and sought potential, illegal construction business owners that advertised in telephone books, the Internet, classified ads and on bulletin boards.

After contact, business owners and their employees traveled to residential homes prepared by Investigators on either S. Hall St., in central Visalia, or on W. League St., in the City of Tulare. Upon arrival, Investigators, as “homeowners”, asked for efforts in a specific building trade and were provided with illegal construction bids.

Involved suspects or associates, without licenses were apprehended and identified. The undercover residential operation snared 32 illegal construction operators or their employees for this crime or, associated crimes of failing to provide workers compensation insurance, narcotics offenses, and driving offenses.

Criminal citations were issued to these individuals and they are scheduled to appear in Tulare Superior Court located at 425 Kern St., Tulare on January 30^th, 2008. 

One individual, Gabriel Vasquez of “Gabe’s Roofing”, provided a State Contractors license number of another and another separate number and was arrested as a result for felony offenses of misuse of a contractor’s state license number.  Suspect Vasquez, was also discovered acting in the capacity of a contractor and possessing illegal advertising. Vasquez was booked into County Jail with a bail amount of $10,000.00.

Along with this Undercover Sting Operation, a two day enforcement sweep took place where Investigators sought illegitimate construction operations at new residential developments and at visible construction sites throughout Tulare County. The sweep effort led Investigators to examine 27 construction zones in the cities of Visalia, Exeter, Tulare and in unincorporated areas throughout the county. Most construction zones had verifiable and properly insured contractors.

The following is a list of Business names and individuals that were given Notices to Appear:

Consumers are warned that the statement, “working under someone’s Contractor’s license” is a red flag for potential fraud. Consumers are reminded to confirm the identity of any potential contractor and confirm that they possess a valid CSLB license number.  

            To report violations please contact: 

            Contractor’s State License Board

            State Wide Investigative Fraud Team

            9821 Business Park Dr.

            Sacramento CA 95827

            (916) 255- 2924

            Tulare County District Attorney-Bureau of Investigation

            221 S. Mooney Blvd., Rm 211

            Visalia CA 93291

            (559) 733-6600

Media inquiries can be directed to:

            Tulare County District Attorney

            Assistant District Attorney

            Don Gallian - (559) 733-6411     

            Contractor State License Board

            9821 Business Park Dr.

            Sacramento CA 95827

            Rick Lopes

            Melanie Bidwell

            (916) 255-4161

            rlopes@cslb.ca.gov