Unlicensed contractor found guilty of swindling customers

A Contra Costa County jury found a Modesto man guilty of multiple felonies Wednesday related to unlicensed contracting, fraud, theft, and the failure to obtain workers' compensation insurance, officials said.

The convictions against 42-year-old Adan Contreras

Rivas also include misdemeanors, according to a statement from Contra Costa District Attorney's spokesman Ted Asregadoo.

Prosecutors first filed an initial complaint against Rivas in March 2022 after an investigation against him started. Authorities released him on his own recognizance; he was arrested again eight months later for posing as a licensed contractor in the landscaping and construction industry, Asregadoo said.

“The defendant defrauded numerous victims out of thousands of dollars,” Deputy District Attorney Natasha Mehta said in a statement. “Justice was achieved for those harmed by Rivas in this case, and the jury's conviction will help protect customers in the future.”

Rivas is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8. He could receive nearly 10 years in state prison if given a maximum sentence.

Authorities warned customers that unlicensed contractors may illegally require excessive down payments for construction and landscaping projects. They also often fail to begin or complete the projects once they've been paid.

Contractors in California are required to be licensed and to carry workers' compensation insurance. Those without workers' compensation insurance should signal a warning to consumers, authorities said.

To check on a contractor's current license status, go to https://www.cslb. ca.gov/.