BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Kern County District Attorney helped with an undercover sting operation in Bakersfield that found nine individuals lacking state required workers' comp insurance, according to state officials.
On April 9 and April 10, Contractors State License Board reportedly led the sting operation at a single-family home near Liberty Park in Bakersfield. The undercover team posed as homeowners and invited the suspected unlicensed contractors to bid on home renovation projects ranging from $950 to $4,200.
During the sting operation, it was discovered that nine of the suspects allegedly did not have workers' insurance policies to cover those working for them. The suspects were cited and could now face a misdemeanor charge of contracting without a license, according to CSLB. First-conviction penalties include up to six months in jail and/or up to $5,000 in fines. All suspects are order to appear in court on June 11 and June 12.
CSLB says one of the suspects will face an additional felony charge of illegally using a contractor license number. Jeffrey S. Anderson was allegedly using a license that expired in 2012 and is facing a fine of up to $10,000, and up to one year in state prison, or both.
During this sting operation, 18 suspects were also alleged to have violated state contracting law by placing bids well over the legal threshold for contracting without a license.
In California, it's illegal for an unlicensed person to perform any contracting work on a project valued at $500 or more in combined labor and material costs.
Below are lists of the suspects and their alleged violations, according to CSLB:
