Six unlicensed suspects face prison time after bidding on fake home construction projects in fire-damaged neighborhoods.
Six unlicensed contractors face felony charges for allegedly trying to solicit more than $1 million in fraudulent rebuilding bids within the Palisades Fire disaster zone, county prosecutors announced.
The criminal filings on June 26 are part of an ongoing regional crackdown on illicit construction scams targeting wildfire victims. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the operations target individuals exploiting communities vulnerable from recent wildfires, which collectively destroyed more than 16,000 structures across the region.
The charges stem from a mid-April sting operation conducted by the Contractors State License Board and the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation. Undercover investigators tracking unlicensed online advertisements posed as homeowners at a Pacific Palisades property, requesting bids for demolition work and the construction of an accessory dwelling unit.
“Protecting wildfire survivors from unlicensed contractors as they rebuild is our priority. We are grateful to our partners at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office who share in the mission to combat unlicensed contracting activity,” said Contractors State License Board Registrar David Fogt. “Anyone who needs to report unlicensed activity is encouraged to submit a complaint to CSLB.”
The six defendants, who lacked state licensing or pending applications, submitted project bids totaling $1.27 million. Prosecutors filed one felony count against each individual for contracting without a license during a natural disaster.
Three of the defendants: Luis Mateo Perez Lopez, Santiago Ismael Mejia Urena, and Raymond Joshua Castorena, pleaded not guilty at their June 26 arraignment and were released on their own recognizance pending an Aug. 5 hearing at the Airport Courthouse. The remaining three defendants: Jecil Cruz-Herrera, Luis Perez Silva, and Antonio Herman Perez, are scheduled for arraignment on July 8.
Five of the men face up to three years in state prison if convicted. Castorena faces a maximum sentence of six years due to a prior strike offense on his record.
