By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
A former licensed contractor whose state license was taken away earlier this year has been arrested and faces several felony and misdemeanor charges involving contracting with a revoked license and failure to carry workers' compensation insurance.
Brian Gross, 55, of Valley Springs in Calaveras County was arrested Oct. 1 by investigators from the Contractors State License Board Statewide Investigation Fraud Team and the Amador County District Attorney's Office, according to license board news release.
Gross' general building contractor's license was revoked June 1 for failure to pay two separate administrative citations totaling more than $4,000, the release states. His license had expired Dec. 31, 2009.
Last week, building officials in Jackson tipped state fraud team investigators to Gross' attempt to obtain a local business license using his revoked contractor license number. Gross was arrested when he and three employees were found roofing a home in Jackson.
Gross faces a felony count of fraudulent use of a contractor license number and misdemeanor counts for contracting without a license, illegal advertising, displaying a revoked license, failure to carry workers' compensation insurance and soliciting an excessive down payment, officials said. He is to be arraigned Oct. 15 in Amador Superior Court.
Gross' past administrative citations, according to the news release, were for filing false exemptions to avoid paying for workers' compensation insurance, failure to secure building permits, charging excessive down payments, working outside of his license classification, illegal advertising and illegal contracts.
California law requires that any home improvement job valued at $500 or more for labor and materials be done by a licensed contractor.
Licensees must carry workers' compensation coverage for all employees so that homeowners are not financially liable if a worker is injured on their property.
Roofing contractors must purchase workers' compensation coverage for themselves as well as their employees.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.
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