SACRAMENTO- On November 27-28, 2018, California’s Contractors State License Board (CSLB) conducted undercover stings in Folsom and Aptos, targeting suspected unlicensed contractors.  During the sting, investigators posed as homeowners and sought bids for home improvement projects.

In Folsom, investigators caught 28 people suspected of contracting illegally, three of whom were allegedly using a contractor’s license number that did not belong to them.  In addition, three suspects cited had been caught in previous stings and were convicted.  Those three individuals now face 90 days in jail and a fine should they be convicted of the current charges.

In Aptos, investigators cited 11 people for contracting illegally, including David Paul Bell, who has two expired plumbing licenses from 2002 and 2005.  Bell was issued a notice to appear in court for allegedly violating three laws including using a fraudulent license number, which could lead to felony charges.

“It is important for consumers to check the CSLB website for licensed contractors,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “Investigators with CSLB are working to protect consumers by weeding out the unlicensed from the licensed, but this effort also levels the playing field for legal contractors who follow the law.”