District attorney announces charges against unlicensed contractors in Altadena fire zone
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Los Angeles County Dist.Atty.
Nathan Hochman announced charges against five unlicensed contractors following an undercover operation in Altadena’s Eaton fire zone.“Unlicensed contractors…are essentially trying to take advantage of people at some of their lowest moments and trying to profit off their tragedy,” Hochman said Thursday in a joint news conference with L.A.County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the unincorporated community.The five suspects — Guillermo Ramirez, Edgar Geovanni Lopez Revolorio, Melvin Hairon Mejia Ordonez, Daniel Escarzaga and Andrew Escarzaga — were charged in connection to rebuilding or attempting to restore homes in Altadena without a license.
They’ll be arraigned on Jan.8.Hochman said the details of the undercover operation will be revealed in court.The charges came as a result of a collaborative investigation between the D.A.’s office and the Contractors State License Board, which regularly conducts undercover operations across the state to bust unlicensed contractors.
So far this year, they’ve held stings in Walnut Creek, Visalia and Bakersfield.Typically, the stings entail investigators posing as homeowners to solicit bids from contractors without licenses.In California, a contractor’s license is required for any project over $1,000, and operating without one can result in misdemeanor charges resulting in up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine.The charges can get bumped up to a felony for unlicensed contracting in a disaster zone, such as Pacific Palisades or Altadena.“If you are one of these unlicensed contractors, we’re gonna come after you.
Every single person you deal with is someone who might be an undercover operative working for law enforcement,” Hochman said.“Get the heck out of our community.”Contracting scams popped up repeatedly in the months after the January fires, especially in Altadena,...