The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), conducted an undercover sting operation targeting predatory, unlicensed builders operating in the Palisades Fire disaster zone.
Six men were swept up in the sting after submitting illegal rebuilding and demolition bids totaling $1.27 million.
🚨 The Sting Operation
Following the catastrophic wildfires, state fraud investigators began tracking online advertisements for construction services that suspiciously left out state license numbers.
Investigators posed as wildfire survivors and invited the unverified contractors to a Pacific Palisades residence to submit bids for:
- Property demolition work
- The construction of a new Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
All six individuals showed up and placed massive project bids despite having no valid state contractor licenses, nor any applications pending with the CSLB.
⚖️ The Charges & Legal Consequences
On June 26, 2026, prosecutors filed one felony count each of contracting without a license during a natural disaster. Under California law, operating without a license in a declared disaster zone elevates the crime to a felony.
The six defendants identified in the filing are:
- Luis Perez Silva (45)
- Jecil Cruz-Herrera (33)
- Luis Mateo Perez Lopez (27)
- Antonio Herman Perez (44)
- Santiago Ismael Mejia Urena (44)
- Raymond Joshua Castorena (33)
Potential Penalties
- Standard Maximum: Five of the defendants face up to three years in state prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.
- Extended Maximum: Raymond Joshua Castorena faces up to six years in state prison due to a prior strike offense on his record.
Three of the men have already pleaded not guilty and are awaiting an August 5, 2026 preliminary hearing, while the remaining three are scheduled for arraignment on July 8, 2026.
🏛️ Official Response
LA County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman issued a stern warning to fraudulent operations attempting to exploit the recovery efforts:
“As residents in Pacific Palisades and Altadena rebuild from the catastrophic wildfires, we have a message for criminal contractors: Stay out of Los Angeles County. Hiring an unlicensed contractor is never a good deal, leaving you at risk of illegal down payments, fraud, unsafe construction, and an inability to sell your home down the line.”
Officials emphasize that survivors of the fire have specific legal protections, including strict limits on how much a contractor can demand as an upfront deposit and extended cancellation rights for safety.
