The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has filed felony charges against five individuals accused of operating as unlicensed contractors in the Eaton Fire burn zone in Altadena.
On Thursday, District Attorney Nathan Hochman and Supervisor Kathryn Barger addressed the public from one of the properties destroyed by the fire, warning about the risks of hiring unlicensed contractors.
According to ABC7, the charges stem from an operation conducted by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation and the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Hochman emphasized that these individuals were caught marketing their services illegally in a disaster zone. Under California law, contracting without a license in a natural disaster area is a felony, punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000.
Three of the accused have pleaded not guilty, while two are scheduled for arraignment in January. The district attorney’s office is urging the public to report any suspected fraud, as reported by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Homeowners are advised to verify contractor licenses at cslb.ca.gov to avoid potential scams.
Supervisor Barger announced efforts to compile a list of licensed contractors for those rebuilding after the fire. The district attorney’s office has also launched a campaign to warn against unlicensed contracting, distributing signs in multiple languages across affected neighborhoods.
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