18 Cited for Illegal Contracting After Culver City Sting

By City News Service

Investigators from the Contractors State Licensing Board have cited 18 illegal contracting suspects following a sting in Culver City, authorities announced Thursday.

Culver City police officers supported the sting, which was conducted on Jan. 8 and 9, according to Steve Breen of the CSLB.

"The fake contractors were invited to bid on concrete, plumbing, ceramic tile and painting projects at a Culver City residence," Breen said. "CSLB investigators contacted suspects through Craiglist, advertisements on vehicles, business cards and job site signs."   All but one of the suspects were cited for contracting without a license, which is punishable for a first offense by up to six months in jail and/or up to $5,000 in fines, he said.

In California, all home improvement jobs valued at $500 or more must be done by a company or person with a CSLB-issued license, Breen explained.

The suspects cited were Mark Dwayne Tarpley of Culver City, David Graciano of Downey, J. Guadalupe Banuelos of Northridge, Thomas Kirk Zion of Arcadia, James Henry Perezrueda of Los Angeles, Joshua Gustavo Rodarte of Downey, Robert Battaglia of Tarzana, Udon Joseph Jimenez of Canyon Country, Albert Desi Rodriquez of Los Angeles, Steven Whittle of Los Angeles, Raymond Eugene Anderson Jr. of San Pedro, Mario Margarito Jimenez of Anaheim, Jesus B. Noveron of Anaheim, Armando Vargas Sanchez of Los Angeles, Mike Omrani of Los Angeles, Nicola Santoro Jr. of Los Angeles, Gregory Alan Stanley of Palmdale, and Douglas Melvin Stanley of Palmdale, according to Breen.

All of the suspects were ordered to appear in court to face possible misdemeanor charges, he said.

Noveron, who was cited for acting in the capacity of a salesperson, was the only one who was not cited for contracting without a license, Breen said.

Fourteen of the suspects -- all but Banuelos, Rodarte, Udon Jimenez and Noveron -- were facing an additional possible charge of false advertising, he said.

Three of the suspects -- Zion, Mario Jimenez and Santoro -- were also cited for displaying licenses not issued to them, Breen said.