Arizona Registrar of Contractors | Newsletter | August 2017

Blueprint

2 Table of Contents

3 Within One Week, Two of AZ ROC’s Most Wanted Unlicensed Entities Arrested on Opposite Ends of the Country

4 AZ ROC Increases Efforts to Warn Damaged Property Owners Against Hiring Unlicensed Entities

7 Licensed Contractor Forum - Phoenix - September 2017

7 AZ ROC Welcomes New Chief Counsel and Assistant Director of Legal/Recovery Fund

8 We're Here. How Can We Help?

2roc.az.gov

In the first case, the Phoenix-based USMS team worked with the Orlando Police Department Fugitive Task Force to apprehend Robert Green, 37 formerly of Gilbert, on July 27, 2017.

Based on information developed by the USMS and AZ ROC, authorities believed Green may have fled to Florida. With that information, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office was able to successfully petition the court to expand Green’s arrest warrant to a nationwide warrant and allow for extradition. From there, the USMS and Orlando Police Department Fugitive Task Forces worked to track him down.

The warrant was issued after Green failed to appear for a pretrial conference in October 2016 related to a case in Maricopa County Superior Court where he stands accused of one count of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices (Class 2 Felony). The felony charge and criminal case stem from an AZ ROC investigation that found Green contracted without a license and did so while representing to homeowners that he was licensed.

The AZ ROC investigation determined he took over $72,000 for bathroom remodels, did some work and then abandoned the job. This was not the only AZ ROC investigation against him, however.

In fact, from 2014 to 2016, AZ ROC received and investigated an additional five complaints against Green. According to those complaints, some homeowners assumed he was licensed based on his professional looking website and gave him a combined $14,700. In each of these complaints, AZ ROC investigators found he collected money and performed little to no work before disappearing. According to the Seminole County Sheriff 's Jail website, Green was booked as an out-of-state fugitive and held non-bondable.

Just two days after Green’s arrest, the Phoenix-based USMS team worked with the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task

Within One Week, Two of AZ ROC’s Most Wanted Unlicensed Entities Arrested on Opposite Ends of the Country The Registrar does not possess the power to arrest. Therefore, the Agency works with local prosecutors and law enforcement partners when attempting to prosecute unlicensed entities. When they go on the run, we work with law enforcement partners across the country to bring them back to Arizona and to justice.

At the end of July, the U.S. Marshals Service led Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Task Force (USMS) worked within its nationwide network to arrest two individuals on the AZ ROC’s Most Wanted Unlicensed Entity list.

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In those eight cases submitted for prosecution, AZ ROC Investigators found Servellon illegally contracted with homeowners for bathroom and kitchen countertop remodeling projects totaling $28,975.

In total, homeowners – from Chandler, Gilbert, Pinetop-Lakeside, Mesa, Phoenix, Queen Creek and Tempe - paid $23,810 on the contracted-for price and Servellon, in exchange, performed little to no work.

According to the Arizona AGO’s December 2015 Indictment stemming from the eight cases, Servellon was charged with 11 counts; including two counts of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices (Class 2 Felony), five counts of Theft (Class 6 Felony), two counts of Theft (Class 5 Felony), and two counts of Theft (Class 3 Felony).

Both individuals are expected to be extradited back to Arizona to stand trial for their criminal allegations.

Force (PSW RFTF) to arrest another one of the Registrar’s Most Wanted Unlicensed Entities.

On July 29, 2017, at approximately 4:40 PM, James Servellon, 48, formerly of the Phoenix-Mesa area, was arrested by the PSW RFTF. For this operation, the arresting team was comprised of individuals from the USMS, Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department, and Los Angeles County Probation Office.

The arrest occurred without incident, outside of a family member’s wedding ceremony in Lancaster, CA, when Servellon left the wedding reception and attempted to retrieve an item from a vehicle in the parking lot.

AZ ROC investigated 36 cases against Servellon since 2006 and, in 2015 alone, the Registrar investigated nine cases and submitted eight of them to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for prosecution.

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roc.az.gov

With the return of Arizona’s monsoon season and wildfires, the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC) continues to warn homeowners against property repair scams while also increasing efforts to curb unlicensed activity in impacted areas.

In July, AZ ROC investigators were in Gold Canyon (monsoon), Dudleyville (fire) and Pine Flats (fire) and the Agency continues to warn property owners to be aware of ‘storm chasers.’

‘Storm chasers’ are typically unlicensed individuals attempting to take advantage of homeowners who may want to hire someone quickly to make repairs to their damaged property. These unlicensed entities often may promise cheap or discounted repairs made with 'left over' materials.

Ranging from poor work to complete abandonment, the AZ ROC commonly receives complaints against these unlicensed entities taking advantage of property owners. These unlicensed individuals only add to the devastation for those affected by a natural disaster.

In what is an ongoing effort which began in 2015, AZ ROC investigators continue to patrol and post warning signs throughout areas impacted by wildfire or monsoon damage to remind property owners to hire only licensed contractors in order to protect themselves against the potential of a second disaster.

AZ ROC works closely with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management to know when structures are threatened by wildfires. As a result, AZ ROC investigators stand ready to ensure homeowners impacted by wildfires are educated about both the benefits of hiring licensed professionals and the potential of falling victim to a second disaster by hiring unlicensed ‘storm chasers.’

Aside from wildfires, the monsoon season poses yet another threat to property owners. The monsoon season officially started on June 15 and will end on September 30. High winds and rushing waters, often associated with monsoon season, create the potential for property damages such as uprooted trees, roof damage, and flooding. Several neighborhoods throughout the valley have already experienced damage to property that will require repair.

AZ ROC encourages all property owners to hire only licensed contracting professionals. For more information or tips you should know before you hire, visit roc.az.gov and use the contractor search to find licensed contractors in your area.

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AZ ROC Increases Efforts to Warn Damaged Property Owners Against Hiring Unlicensed Entities

Licensed Contractor Forum Phoenix - Sept. 2017

Tuesday, September 19, 2017 3:30pm to 5:00pm (MST)Arizona Executive Tower

Second Floor Conference Room1700 W Washington St.

Phoenix, AZ 85007

AZ ROC is holding regional meetings every other month. The meetings, known as “AZ ROC Licensed Contractor Forums,” provide contractors and contracting associations an opportunity to voice concerns, raise questions and receive updates from the Agency.

These agenda-driven forums begin with an update from AZ ROC's leadership team and allow for general questions and feedback from contractors and associations related to potential issues within the industry or their area.

If you're a consumer group or homeowners association wishing to have an investigator or other Agency staff speak to your group regarding the Agency, or are a contractor with a specific question related to your license, please contact us at 877.692.9762 (in Arizona).

Parking: Free parking is available in the Executive Tower parking lot along 19th Avenue between Adams and Jefferson streets. Additional free parking is available in Wesley Bolin Plaza, east of the Capitol. You may access the parking lots by heading west on Adams Street towards 17th Avenue or east on Jefferson Street towards 15th Avenue.

Due to limited space, you must register and can do so here.

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AZ ROC Welcomes New Chief Counsel and Assistant Director of Legal/Recovery Fund

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC) welcomes Nicole Sornsin as new Chief Counsel and Assistant Director of Legal and Recovery Fund to the Agency as of July 10, 2017.

Sornsin grew up in Glendale, AZ, and attended Arizona State University, graduating with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. She obtained her law degree in 2009 from William and

Mary Law School, Williamsburg, VA, and spent nearly the last decade working as a business litigator at the law firm of Snell & Wilmer, LLP, Phoenix.

Among other areas, Sornsin’s practice focused on construction litigation and she has represented general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and owners with regard to licensing and compliance matters with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, as well as with regard to performance and payment disputes, contract termination matters, mechanics' and materialmen's lien foreclosures, surety bond claims and bid protests. Sornsin was recognized as a Southwest Super Lawyers' “Rising Star,” in the area of Business Litigation for 2014-2017.

In late-May, AZ ROC’s former Chief Counsel, James Hanson, returned to private practice. The search for his replacement began immediately and the Agency looks to continue the great advancements in the legal department made during Hanson’s tenure and to begin new improvements under Sornsin’s watch.

PHOENIX1700 W. Washington St. Suite 105 Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2812 Telephone: (602) 542-1525 Fax: (602) 542-1599 Free public parking is located west of the building off 19th Avenue and Jefferson. Visitors may park in any of the unmarked spaces. Enter the building through the west-facing doors of the State Capitol Executive Tower.

TUCSON400 W. Congress St., Ste. 212 Tucson, Arizona 85701-1353 Telephone: (520) 628-6345 Fax: (520) 628-6588 Directions: Northwest corner of West Congress and Granada.

FLAGSTAFF2501 N 4th Street #22 Flagstaff, Arizona 86004-3701 The Flagstaff Office is open by appointment only. Please contact us at 1-877-692-9762 (1-877-MY-AZROC) for additional information or to schedule an appointment.

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