DA files charges, issues warning over unlicensed contracting in Los Angeles County burn zones
LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced it filed charges against five people accused of being unlicensed contractors in the Eaton Fire burn zone.
Thursday afternoon, District Attorney Nathan Hochman and Supervisor Kathryn Barger stood on one of the properties destroyed in Altadena and issued a warning about the possible risks when hiring an unlicensed contractor.
They stressed the risks range from paying a large sum up front, liability that falls on the property owner when the contractor is not insured, and the challenges to recover losses if work is not up to code.
Barger said the county is working on compiling a list of licensed contractors currently working in the Eaton Fire burn area as a resource for survivors.
Hochman said the individuals being prosecuted face felony charges based state law on unlicensed contracting in natural disaster zones.
“These five individuals were caught up in an operation conducted by two of the members here of our Bureau of Investigations,” he Hochman. “They caught them effectively marketing their services as unlicensed contractors.”
Three have pleaded not guilty and two are scheduled to be arraigned in January.
The district attorney’s office is calling on the public to report any cases of fraud. Some examples of when unlicensed contracting is considered against the law in California is when a building permit is required or the combined sum of labor and materials exceeds $1,000.
You can look for a licensed contractor or check a license number at cslb.ca.gov.
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