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L.A. County Files Felony Charges Against Five Over Unlicensed Contracting in Eaton Fire Zone

The charges follow an October undercover operation with the state licensing board.

Overview

  • Prosecutors named Guillermo Ramirez, Edgar Geovanni Lopez Revolorio, Melvin Hairon Mejia Ordonez, Daniel Escarzaga and Andrew Escarzaga as the defendants.
  • The case is filed under Business and Professions Code §7028.16, which makes unlicensed contracting in disaster areas a felony punishable by up to a $10,000 fine and up to three years in prison.
  • Officials say the men were caught offering services during a sting and had not performed actual repair work on homes.
  • An arraignment is set for Jan. 8 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, and investigators say more cases could follow.
  • Authorities plan continued undercover checks and will post warning signs with QR codes to help residents verify licenses and avoid uninsured, high-risk work.