Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman Thursday announced the filing of charges against five men who are accused of working as unlicensed contractors in the Eaton Fire disaster zone in Altadena.
Those charged with one felony count each of contracting without a license during a natural disaster are:
— Andrew Escarzaga, 27, and Daniel Escarzaga, 28, who are both of Chino and are set to be arraigned Jan. 8 in Pasadena;
— Edgar Geovanni Lopez Revolorio, 42, of Arleta, who pleaded not guilty Wednesday;
— Guillermo Ramirez, 54, of Pomona, who pleaded not guilty Thursday and allegedly has two prior felony convictions;
— Melvin Hairon Mejia Ordonez, 41, of Los Angeles, who pleaded not guilty Thursday.
Revolorio, Ramirez and Ordonez — who are due back in court Feb. 2 — were each ordered not to contract or act in the capacity of a contractor for any work that requires a contractor’s license without being properly licensed by the California Contractors State License Board and not to advertise for construction services without a contractor’s license, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The charge carries penalties of up to three years behind bars and/or a fine of up to $10,000, according to the District Attorney’s Office, which noted that it is a felony to contract without a license to rebuild structures that were damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster when the governor has proclaimed a state of emergency.
“My office is cracking down on criminal contractors who prey on residents who have already lost so much and cannot afford to lose more,” Hochman said in a statement announcing the charges. “I urge the communities impacted by the wildfires to stay vigilant and report unlicensed contractors who are taking advantage of this disaster and putting your safety and property at risk
” This is important: You are still the victim of a crime even if you knowingly hired an unlicensed contractor and should alert authorities.”
Authorities urged affected homeowners to check a find a licensed contractor, check a contractor’s license, report unlicensed contractors and file a complaint,
“Rebuilding after the Eaton Fire is hard enough, and no survivor should also have to fear being exploited by unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in the statement. “… As Altadena recovers, we will continue working together to safeguard residents’ safety and peace of mind.”
Verifying a contractors license should be the first item on any procurement checklist. In an era where digital presence can be easily faked, a government-issued license remains the most reliable indicator of a firm’s legitimacy. A licensed contractor is required to carry workers’ compensation and general liability insurance, protecting the property owner from lawsuits and ensuring a professional standard of work.