Over two dozen unlicensed operators were arrested in Escondido this week as result of a statewide undercover sting targeting illegal home construction, officials said.

During operation "California Blitz" the 28 operators were invited to a home and bid over $500 on various phony construction projects, ranging from painting and tile work to landscaping, exterior lighting and masonry.

The contractors were taken into custody and given notice to appear before a Superior Court judge to answer to misdemeanor charges of contracting without a license, as well as illegal advertising in some cases. They face a maximum of six months in jail or a $1,000 fine for the first offense. A second offense means a mandatory 90-day jail sentence.

Most of those arrested were also given notice to appear before a judge on separate charges of not being licensed contractors doing business in Escondido.

According to California law, anyone performing contracting work that totals over $500 must be licensed by the CSLB. Contractors who apply after January 1, 2005 must also undergo a Department of Justice background check before obtaining their license.

Officials stressed the importance of knowing you are working with licensed professionals.

“Many homeowners don’t realize the risk they take when they hire someone who is not licensed to do work in their home, said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. “What seems like a good deal almost always ends up costing a lot more.”

The cases were also given to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office for review.

"Homeowners place significant money and trust in their contractors, and our office continues to vigorously prosecute any criminal violations in this area," San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis said.

Unlicensed contractors often bid lower on projects, which may sound appealing to homeowners, but if they do not carry worker's compensation insurance for their workers, the homeowner may be liable if someone is injured on the job.

The following people were arrested during the sting:

Josaias Santos of El Cajon
Ilhan Aksel of Escondido
Kevin Scott Boyd of San Diego
Abner Elmar Cermeno of National City
Mitchell Ryan Brewer of San Diego
Julio Cesar Sanchez Navarro of San Diego
Richard Eugene Remington of San Diego
William Sloan True, Jr. of Oceanside
Steven Bradley Clingman of Escondido
Emilio Varela-Soto of Chula Vista
Ernest Caro of Escondido
Gregorio Trinidad Antonio of Vista
Arsenio Ainza, Jr. of San Diego
William Peter Garland of Poway
Alex Pearl of Vista
Pablo Mauricio Rubio of San Diego
Juan Carlos Ibanez-Arrazola of Vista
Jose Resendiz of Vista
Umut Kosmaz of San Diego
John Charles Woolmer of San Marcos
Francisco Diaz Bautista of Escondido
Robert McCall Tuttle of Fallbrook
Felipe Isidro Cedillo of Valley Center
Jose Isabel Gonzalez of Spring Valley
Gabriel Castillo of Escondido
Joel Vasquez Perez of San Marcos
Benito Mendiola of Escondido
Pedro Quiroz of San Diego

The CLSB offers the following tips to homeowners when dealing with a building contractor:

Hire only licensed contractors and ask to see the license;

Don't rush into decisions, and don't hire the first contractor who comes along;

Be especially hesitant when approached by someone offering home improvement services door-to-door, especially when they will use material they claim is left over from another job;

Verify the contractor's license by checking online at www.cslb.ca.gov or via CSLB's automated phone service at 1-800-321-CSLB (2752);

Don't pay more than 10 percent down, or $1,000, whichever is less;

Don't pay cash, and don't let the payments get ahead of the work;

Get three bids, check references, and a written contract; and

Contact the CSLB if you have a complaint against a contractor.

"California Blitz" was a cooperative effort between the Contractors State License Board, Escondido Police Department, the Escondido Code Enforcement Division and the Fraud Division of the California Department of Insurance.

Escondido was one of seven locations around California involved in the undercover operation.

The CSLB licenses and regulates California's 308,000 contractors, and investigates over 20,000 complaints each year.
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