Sixteen contractors caught in Sanger sting operation

Sixteen contractors were busted doing illegal work in Sanger last week during a two-day sting operation by the Contractors State License Board, the Sanger Police Department and California Highway Patrol.

Eleven were caught on July 29 and five on July 30, after suspected unlicensed operators were invited to place bids to renovate a former hospital. Those busted were Ricardo Jaurez, Juan F. Hinojosa Navarro, Alvaro DeZubiria, Daniel Molina Burrola, Jose Lomeli, Jose Inez Lomeli Montellano, Meleso Antonio, Charles Edward Edmondson, Yasif Rene Santos Benitez, Said Santos Benitez, Sergio Villalpando, Lazaro Lopez-Ramirez, Genaro Carraso Ramirez, Richard William Anderson, Mark Wesley Bennett and Wahid Abdul Yusufi.

Thirteen were from Fresno, two from Clovis and one from Easton. Each did not possess a city business license, in addition to lacking a contractor license.

All face the charge of contracting without a license. Fourteen also face illegal advertising charges, as unlicensed contractors cannot advertise for construction work valued at $500 or more. Five were cited for failing to have workers’ compensation insurance for employees.

“Always check the contractor license first and don’t be lured by the least expensive bid,” said CSLB Registrar Cindi Christenson in a released statement.

Licensed contractors can be found on CSLB’s website, www.cslb.ca.gov, or by calling CSLB’s toll-free information line at 800-321-2752.

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 4:20 PM with the headline "Sixteen contractors caught in Sanger sting operation."