Bay City News Service
More than $100,000 in arrest warrants have been issued for an Oakland man suspected of contracting fraud, earning him a spot on a state "most wanted" list, according to the Contractors State License Board.
Khalid Wilson, 41, has allegedly been using his contractor license number, which was revoked in 2004, to obtain work, board officials said. He is also reported to have solicited down payments for projects beyond the legal limit of 10 percent of the total contract, or $1,000, whichever is less.
Wilson is wanted on a $15,000 probation violation warrant in Contra Costa County and a $10,000 warrant in Alameda County.
Alameda County has issued a $100,000 warrant for Wilson on one felony count of fraudulent use of a contractor license number and another $10,000 warrant for two additional counts of the same charge, according to the board.
In addition, the county has issued a $1,000 misdemeanor warrant for contracting without a license and a $2,500 warrant for driving on a suspended or revoked license.
These allegations and numerous consumer complaints have led the Contractors State License Board to name Wilson to its "most wanted" list. It's not the first time he's been on the list.
In 2008 he was arrested on similar charges, and pleaded guilty to misrepresenting his contractor license and contracting without a license in
Contra Costa County. However, he failed to pay restitution in Contra Costa
County in 2010 and failed to appear at a restitution hearing earlier this
year in Alameda County, which is what triggered the probation violation
warrants.
Board officials say they have received dozens of complaints about Wilson since his license was revoked in 2004, and more than half have resulted in criminal filings.
"Checking your contractors license on the CSLB website is vital," said board Registrar Steve Sands. "It's one of the best ways to avoid being deceived, as Wilson has been doing to unsuspecting Bay Area consumers."
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Wilson or anyone else on the CSLB's Most Wanted list should contact their local law enforcement agency and then call the CSLB at (916) 255-2924.
Lamorindans have been acutely interested in the pedigrees of local contractors since accounts began to surface of transgressions by at least one local builder, . Consumers seeking to hire a contractor should hire only license contractors, check license numbers and photo ID, and check their license number at www.cslb.ca.gov.
Consumers should generally not pay more than 10 percent or $1,000, whichever is less, as a down payment. Don't pay in cash, don't let payments get ahead of the work, and make sure you get multiple bids, check references and get a contract in writing.
Sounds like a nightmare.