Illegal Operator Cited Twice in Two Days during First Ever Cal-Nevada Border Blitz

The first ever joint enforcement effort by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) on May 19 and 20, 2011, should put illegal operators on notice that unlicensed activity on either side of the state line will not be tolerated. The operation included stings on the California and Nevada sides of Lake Tahoe, and sweeps through jobsites in Placer and El Dorado counties.

Tomas Prochazka, 34, of Truckee, did not seem to get the message. After receiving a notice to appear in Nevada County Court at CSLB’s May 19 sting in Truckee, he received a citation to appear in Washoe County Court at a May 20 sting put on by NSCB in Incline Village. Prochazka will answer to charges of contracting without a license and illegal advertising in both states. During both stings, investigators from their respective boards posed as homeowners, seeking bids for various home improvement jobs. If suspects were not appropriately licensed, they received the notices to appear (NTAs) in court. A total of 13 received NTAs at the Truckee sting; six received NTAs at the Incline Village operation.

Also on May 20, CSLB investigators conducted sweeps at several jobsites in Placer and El Dorado counties in California, as NSCB investigators observed. In South Lake Tahoe, CSLB issued two stop work orders to unlicensed operators and another to a licensee for failure to carry workers’ compensation insurance. A new law that took effect January 1, 2011 enables CSLB investigators to immediately issue a Stop Order to a licensed or unlicensed contractor who cannot show a current workers’ compensation insurance policy for all employees on the job. Three others in South Lake Tahoe received administrative citations for contracting without a license.  

During the Placer County sweep, one person was cited for contracting on an expired license. Additional citations for contracting on an expired license and failure to carry workers’ compensation insurance are pending. 

“Investigators for our boards did a tremendous job in letting illegal operators know that they are being targeted on both sides of the state line,” said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. “California and Nevada contractor boards are committed to protecting consumers, and ensuring a level playing field for legitimate licensees.”

Law enforcement backup for the sting and sweep operations were provided by the Nevada County District Attorney and Sheriff, Amador County District Attorney, Truckee Police Department, California Department of Consumer Affairs’ Department of Investigations. The following suspects who receive NTAs at the Truckee sting are scheduled for arraignment at 9:00 a.m. in Nevada County Superior Court, 10075 Levonne Avenue #301, Truckee, on July 18, 2011: 

Richard Mark Russell, Reno, NV, 49 Flooring, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

Ildefonso Colmenero, 33 Kings Beach, CA, Earthwork and Paving, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

Benjamin Munoz, 39, Truckee, CA, Landscaping, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment

Edgar Ramon Solorio Zaragosa, 29, Truckee, CA, Landscaping, Contracting without a license

Jorge Fernando Pena Campos, 49, Reno, NV, Painting, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

Jeffrey James Drake, 50, Truckee, CA, Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

Michael David Durfee, 42, Reno, NV, Painting, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment

Aleta Jeanine Renteria, 46, Reno, NV, Painting, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, soliciting excessive down payment

Steven Gregory Snider, 54, Reno, NV, Landscaping, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising, failure to carry workers’ compensation

Matthew Nestore Williams, 29, Truckee, CA, Painting, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

Tomas Prochzka, 34, Truckee, CA, Landscaping, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

Donald L. Otto, 61, Sparks, NV Painting, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

Bradley John Allen Moran, 38, Soda Springs, CA, Landscaping, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

The first five suspects listed are set to appear at 9:30 a.m. on June 28, 2011, at Incline Justice Court, 865 Tahoe Boulevard, Suite 301, Incline Village. The last suspect is calendared for 2 p.m. on June 21, 2011, at Stateline Justice Court, 175 Highway 50, Stateline, Nevada. 

Tomas Prochazka, 34, Truckee, CA Plumbing and Electrical, Contracting without a license, advertising without a contractor license

Edward Virgil Yelland, 50, Truckee, CA General Construction, Contracting without a license, advertising without a contractor license

Michael Wayne Stenerson, 45, Minden, NV, Tiling, Contracting without a license, advertising without a contractor license

Rory Lee Parker, 52, Carson City, NV, Carpentry, Contracting without a license, advertising without a contractor license

Adan Arturo Mendivil, 32, Carson City, NV, General Construction, Contracting without a license, illegal advertising

Jose A. Ceballos-Ortega, 63, Tiling, Contracting without a license

The California Contractors State License Board operates under the umbrella of the Department of Consumer Affairs. More information and publications about hiring contractors are available on the CSLB website or by calling 800-321-CSLB (2752). You can also sign up for CSLB e-mail alerts at www.cslb.ca.gov. CSLB licenses and regulates California's more than 300,000 contractors, and is regarded as one of the leading consumer protection agencies in the United States. In fiscal year 2009-10, CSLB helped recover nearly $42 million in ordered restitution for consumers.

The Nevada State Contractors Board is committed to protecting the public’s health, safety, and welfare through licensing and regulation of the construction industry. Under Nevada Revised Statutes, a licensee is subject to disciplinary action by the Board for failure to comply with the requirements of the laws or regulations governing contractors. Violations may result in Board action against the contractor’s license. The State Contractors Board has the power to regulate contractors and discipline licensees who violate NRS 624. Disciplinary action may consist of a fine of up to $10,000 per offense, order corrective action, suspension, revocation or other action.