Unlicensed Contractors Sentenced for Soliciting 2007 Wildfire Victims

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that Roger Paul Rajcic of San Diego pled guilty to one felony violation of contracting without a license during the October 2007 Witch Creek Wildfires. Darrien Carl Webster also of San Diego, also pled guilty to acting as an unlicensed public adjuster. Webster was sentenced to three years summary probation and ordered to pay $600 in fines and restitution.

“Unlicensed contractors and public adjusters routinely swarm wildfire zones to take advantage of disaster survivors,” said Commissioner Poizner.

According to CDI investigators, a couple lost their home in the 2007 Witch Creek Fire in Ramona. The couple contracted with Rajcic and Webster, who, unbeknownst to the couple, were unlicensed. Rajcic was contracted to rebuild their home and Webster agreed to handle their insurance claim. When the couple discovered that both men were unlicensed, they contacted the Contractor’s State License Board to file a complaint. The Department of Insurance was notified of the situation and jointly investigated the case with the Contractor’s State License Board.

Sentencing for Rajcic is set for May 4, 2009 at 1:30pm.

The case is being prosecuted by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.

Following the October 2007 wildfires, Commissioner Poizner sent strike teams of CDI enforcement officers to fire zones to conduct undercover operations to identify and help prosecute unlicensed contractors and public adjusters who attempted to scam wildfire victims.

Source: CDI