FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mon., Nov. 9, 2020
CONTACT:
Breanna Bang, Public Information Liaison
AZ ROC October 2020
Unlicensed Adjudication Highlights
PHOENIX, Ariz., (Nov. 9, 2020) – It’s ‘case closed’ on three Arizona Registrar of Contractors’ (AZ ROC) unlicensed investigations after the cases were successfully adjudicated in Yuma, Bullhead City and Tucson local courts last month.
Yuma
On Thurs., October 29, 2020, Adrian Lopez Mora, 32 of Yuma, pleaded guilty to Contracting Without a License, a Class 1 Misdemeanor, in the Yuma Justice Court.
The charge resulted from an AZ ROC investigation finding Mora, DBA A & K Concrete, contracted to lay concrete at a Yuma residence. Mora accepted a $3,000 down payment to start the job and returned a couple of days later to pour some concrete. After an initial day of work, however, he never returned to finish the job - leading the homeowner to file a complaint with AZ ROC.
The Yuma Justice Court ordered Mora to pay $1,976 in fines and fees.
Bullhead City
On Tues., October 20, 2020, James Allen Mangold, 52 of Bullhead City, pleaded guilty to Attempted Contracting Without a License, a Class 1 Misdemeanor, in the Bullhead City Municipal Court.
The charge stems from an AZ ROC investigation that found Mangold DBA: Jimco, contracted to install multiple split-air conditioning units in a Bullhead City home. The units had problems immediately after installation.
The investigation found the payments were made out to Mangold’s previously licensed company, Jimco LLC (ROC 151478). The license was revoked in 2007 after Mangold failed to pay a $1,000 civil penalty related to a 2007 complaint case. In 2008, Mangold provided proof that the matter was resolved with the complainant and in 2009 paid the outstanding civil penalties.
Mangold applied for and was issued a second license in 2009 under the name Jimcco LLC (ROC 253837). This license was revoked in 2016 after Mangold failed to pay another $1,000 civil penalty. The penalty was ordered by an administrative law judge after a consumer complaint revealed Mangold contracted while the license was suspended for not being renewed on-time.
As a part of the plea agreement, the Bullhead City Municipal Court ordered Mangold to pay $1,715 in restitution to the victim and $220 in fines and fees. Mangold was also ordered to serve a 60-day jail sentence that will be suspended if he complies with all the terms of a two-year probation period.
Tucson
On Tues., October 20, 2020, Fernando Alexis Miranda, 28 of Tucson, pleaded guilty to Contracting Without a License, a Class 1 Misdemeanor, in the Pima Consolidated Justice Court.
The charge is the result of a 2019 AZ ROC investigation finding that Miranda contracted to paint the inside of a Tucson home and install a concrete epoxy on the home’s garage floor for $7,000. Miranda started the job, but the homeowners were unhappy with the workmanship. The epoxy floor coating bubbled and had the texture of glue. The homeowners paid for more materials for Miranda to repair the work and, after spending another $387 on materials, they received the same result. This led the homeowners to file a complaint with AZ ROC, after which they discovered Miranda was not a licensed contractor.
The court ordered Miranda to pay $1,020 in fines and fees, and he was sentenced to serve 1 day in jail if restitution is not paid to the homeowners. The amount of the restitution has yet to be determined.
Background
AZ ROC frequently receives complaints regarding unlicensed entities exploiting property owners ranging from poor work to complete abandonment. If the entire cost of the project, including labor and materials is over $1,000, or requires a permit by the local municipality, Arizona law requires the person or business performing the work to be licensed.
AZ ROC reminds property owners to ask contractors of their license status and to check the license using the contractor search at www.roc.az.gov or giving the Agency a call at 1-877-692-9762.
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