Contractor from Artesia Accused of Operating Without License

An Artesia man was among eight contractors allegedly operating without a license who were caught in a sting operation, authorities said today.

Tuesday's undercover operation was staged at a house in Rolling Hills Estates, Rick Lopes of the Contractors State License Board said.

Israel Nunez, 38, of Gardena, went to the address to bid on some concrete work, Lopes said.

"When Nunez arrived at the house to give a bid to ... investigators, he encountered Marcus Malouf-Claxton, 19, of La Palma, who was being cited for contracting violations," Lopes said in a statement.

"Malouf-Claxton tried to warn Nunez away from the scene," Lopes said. "But a quick-thinking CSLB investigator posing as a homeowner intervened, telling Nunez that Malouf-Claxton was being booked by officers for an unrelated offense.

"Nunez, apparently convinced of the story, went on to give investigators a bid for concrete work, was issued a notice to appear in Superior Court, and also was detained by (immigration) agents regarding his residency status," Lopes said.

Nunez was also cited last month by the CSLB for a contracting violation, Lopes said.

Two other suspects cited on Tuesday also had been cited earlier for contracting violations. Tomas Mondragon, 63, of Los Angeles, was cited during a sweep at a construction site in April. Jose Cardenas, 49, of Hawthorne was cited in 2012 in a similar sweep, Lopes said.

Also cited Tuesday were Javier Lucas, of Artesia; Zvonimir Nikolic, of Whittier; Melo Ahoia, of Long Beach; and Oscar Sermeno, of Gardena.

First-time penalties for contracting without a license include up to six months in jail and/or up to $5,000 in fines.

- City News Service