ENFORCEMENT

 Complaint Intake 

CSLB is seeing an increase in consumer complaints which is affecting timelines and caseloads. Staff is analyzing possible causes (website complaint forms, increase in non-payment, housing market, publicity) We hope to have more information for the Board at the next Board meeting, as well recommended process changes.

 Northern SWIFT 

Transient Paver Arrested at CSLB HQ

Investigators from our Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) cast a net out on Wednesday to catch a suspected transient criminal… and got their man.  In mid April SWIFT investigators arrested George Lindsay in Yuba County and charged him with contracting without license and not having workers’ compensation insurance for his employees.  In addition, they impounded approximately $300,000 in vehicles and paving equipment, including a dump truck.  Due to publicity from that arrest, additional victims from around the state have come forward.  The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office (D.A.) responded quickly to victims there and got a judge to sign a $100,000 felony arrest warrant for charges including conspiracy to commit a crime and grand theft by false pretenses.  SWIFT investigators lured Stanley to CSLB Headquarters by telling him he was going to get back his vehicles and equipment and needed paperwork to show he was the rightful owner.  A meeting was set for 10:00 am.  Stanley was a no-show.  But, he eventually called investigators and said he was getting on a plane in Los Angeles to fly up here for the meeting.  Stanley finally showed up about 3:15pm.  No sooner had he sat down and given the SWIFT investigators some papers when two officers with the Tulare D.A.’s office swooped in, and slapped on the handcuffs.  A couple of hours later, Stanley was in a jail jumpsuit and leg shackles, headed to Tulare County

 

                 

           

In addition to the felony and misdemeanor charges, the Tulare County DA also filed a civil case against Stanley, which orders him to cease conducting business in California and stop engaging in unlawful business practices. The civil case seeks civil penalties for Stanley’s illegal business practices, and seeks an injunction to prevent him from working in construction and paving without a valid CSLB license, and from having employees without providing workers compensation. Last Friday, a judge issued a Temporary Restraining Order, preventing Stanley from getting his equipment back. Stanley’s arraignment on the criminal charges is set for June 4, 2008. 

SWIFT Partners with EDD for Oakland Sweep

Northern SWIFT staff teamed with EDD for a EEEC construction sweep in Oakland on May 12. The partners achieved the following results:

Site Visits:                                5

Entities Checked:                      5

Nonlicensee Citations Issued:     1

Pending Cases:                         2

No Violations:                            2 

EEEC Sweep in El Dorado County

On May 15 and 16, Northern SWIFT EEEC staff conducted sweeps with EEEC partners EDD, DLSE and CalOSHA in South Lake Tahoe and Placerville. The El Dorado operation was conducted in conjunction with EEEC sweeps in So Cal on the same dates, to expand the sweeps for statewide impact. Although most of the contractors interviewed were in compliance, feedback from legitimate licensed contractors was positive, and the word is out that CSLB is taking a vigilant stance against unlicensed activity. Results were as follows:

Site Visits:                                50

Entities Checked:                      81

Nonlicensee Citations Issued:       1

Licensee Citations Issued:            0

Warning Letters Issued:                1

Civil Penalties Assessed:           $750 

Southern SWIFT 

Bogus Electrical Repair Suspects Busted at Poway JESF Sting

Southern SWIFT and Criminal Task Force staff teamed up to target predatory electrical repair technicians, as well as other unlicensed operators, during a sting operation in Poway on May 14. After investigators called the number on an American Electric ad with no license number, two unlicensed and unregistered technicians showed up and bid to upgrade the existing service panel and install GFICs in the sting house. The technicians were arrested, issued NTAs, and then released. Total results for the one day sting are as follows:

Appointments Set:                                 17

NTAs Issued:                                         16

Arrests:                                                   2

Nonlicensee Citations Issued:                   0

Licensee Citations Issued:                        0

Pending Cases:                                       4

 

EEEC Sweeps Los Angeles Communities

SWIFT EEEC staff teamed with their EDD, DLSE and CalOSHA counterparts for a two-day EEEC construction sweep of the LA communities of Norwalk, Downey, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, West Hills, Canoga Park, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Studio City and Chatsworth on May 15-16. The teams achieved the following results:

 

Day One 5/15 – Norwalk and Downey

Site Visits:                                            6

Entities Checked:                                  3

Owner-Builder Projects:                          1

Citations Issued:                                    2

Civil Penalties Assessed:                       $1,500

 

Day One 5/15 – Woodland Hills, Tarzana, West Hills, Canoga Park & Chatsworth

Site Visits:                                            42

Entities Checked:                                  31

Citations Issued:                                      9

Warning Letters Issued:                            4

Pending Cases:                                       3

Civil Penalties Assessed:                       $8,250

 

Day Two 5/16 – Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks & Studio City

Site Visits:                                            43

Entities Checked:                                  38

Citations Issued:                                    10

Warning Letters Issued:                            1

Pending Cases:                                       3

Civil Penalties Issued:                            $7,800

 

GRAND TOTALS – LOS ANGELES EEEC SWEEP

Site Visits:                                            91

Entities Checked:                                  72

Citations Issued:                                    21

Warning Letters Issued:                            5

Pending Cases:                                       6

Civil Penalties Issued:                            $17,550

 

LICENSING

- Exam apps are at 1 week and waivers at 1½.

- The average wait time in the LIC last week was 3:09.

 

OTHER

- Attached is the Senior Scam Stopper schedule for June.

- The Executive Committee meeting is set for June 3, 1:30 to 4:00 in the Board hearing office. (Remember traffic in Sacramento will be abysmal through mid-July due to I-5 repair)

- All Board members are scheduled to attend the June 19 Board meeting in Big Bear Lake.

- CSLB will be loaning $10 million to the general fund as per May revise budget. The money must be repaid but there is no date certain for that.