Five contractors cited in undercover sting

By Rich Greene

rgreene@redbluffdailynews.com @richgreenenews on Twitter

RED BLUFF >> Five Redding men were cited during a recent California Contractors State License Board sting operation that took place at a Red Bluff commercial building Tuesday.

The sting operation was done with the assistance of the Tehama County District Attorney's Office.

Posing as property owners the State License Board's Statewide Investigative Fraud Team called a list of potential suspects to find out whether they were interested in bidding on projects that included painting, drywall, concrete, landscaping and tile work.

Most of the contacts were found through ads posted on craigslist.org.

"Our SWIFT teams conduct stings throughout the state each week to catch unlicensed, uninsured operators (to keep them) from taking advantage of property owners," Registrar Steve Sands said. "Homeowners should never use unlicensed people for their projects these individuals have not passed trade or business examinations, nor undergone a criminal background check."

A state contractor's license is required for work that totals more than $500.

Bids at the sting ranged from $2,000 to $6,500, violating the project limit of $500 in combined labor and material costs.

Steven Cole Pine, Devin Patrick Morrissey, Clifford Jay Markhart, Andrew James Frasure and Jose Pedro Pascual were each cited with a misdemeanor charge of contracting without a license.

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Five contractors cited in undercover sting