Six men who advertised construction services online in Pacific Palisades following the 2025 wildfire are facing potential criminal charges for allegedly operating without valid contractor licenses, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
The individuals—identified as Luis Perez Silva, 45; Antonio Herman Perez, 44; Santiago Ismael Mejia Urena, 44; Jecil Cruz-Herrera, 33; Raymond Joshua Castorena, 33; and Luis Mateo Perez Lopez, 27—are accused of collectively submitting unauthorized bids totaling up to $1.27 million for construction projects in the fire-damaged community. Authorities say the men began promoting their services soon after the devastating blaze.
In April, investigators from California’s Contractors State License Board’s Statewide Investigative Fraud Team discovered online advertisements offering construction work without listing valid contractor license numbers. The team then arranged meetings with the men, posing as prospective clients seeking construction and demolition services for an accessory dwelling unit at a Pacific Palisades address.
Following these meetings, investigators confirmed that none of the men were licensed contractors nor had active applications with the board. The district attorney’s office stated that hiring unlicensed contractors can lead to significant risks including fraud, unsafe construction, illegal down payments, and difficulties when selling a property.
Of the six individuals, five face potential sentences of up to three years in state prison and fines reaching $10,000. Castorena faces enhanced penalties of up to six years in prison and similar fines due to a previous strike offense, according to prosecutors.
Mejia Urena, Perez Lopez, and Castorena entered not guilty pleas at an appearance on June 26. A preliminary hearing for their cases is scheduled for August 5. Meanwhile, arraignments for Cruz-Herrera, Perez, and Silva are set for this Wednesday.
The district attorney’s office emphasized the importance of licensed contractors in maintaining labor standards and protecting consumers’ interests, highlighting that enforcement actions aim to prevent exploitation and unsafe practices in the rebuilding efforts after the wildfire.