Investigators from the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Identification and detectives from the Rhode Island State Police arrested six contractors Thursday on misdemeanor warrants of failing to comply with final orders of the Contractors Registration Board.
The CRB is the Executive Branch administrative agency through which complaints involving homeowners and contractors are heard and resolved. The Attorney General’s Office serves as the legal adviser to the CRB and takes an active role in collecting and disbursing money to homeowners if and when a contractor ignores a final order from the CRB.
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The contractors, who are the subject of CRB orders directing the payment of either or both restitution to homeowners and fines to the CRB, were booked at the State Police’s Lincoln Barracks and brought into both Providence and Kent District Courts Thursday morning.
“This is, pure and simple, a quality-of-life issue,” said Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch in a statement. “I want to put rogue contractors on notice that if they continue to avoid the administrative process altogether, or ignore orders from the CRB to pay homeowners back for shoddy work or jobs not finished, there will be more sweeps like this in the future.”
Lynch added: “Clearly, most contractors are honest and hard-working people, but the rogues of the industry are giving everybody else a bad name. So it’s important to remind all contractors that the CRB’s proceedings and orders need to be taken seriously. If those orders are not taken seriously, obviously, there are consequences.”
The following contractors were arrested:
Angel DeJesus, 53, of Providence: The CRB ordered DeJesus to pay $350 in restitution to a Providence homeowner and a $600 fine to the board in February 2003. He appeared in Providence 6th Division District Court.
Reginald Felder, 37, of Providence: In September 2004, Felder was ordered to pay $4,000 restitution to a Cranston homeowner and $3,500 to the CRB. He appeared in Providence 6th Division District Court.
Joseph Gonsalves, 48, of JMG Construction, Warwick: Gonsalves has violated four final orders of the CRB: three from October 2005 in the amounts of $4,500, $1,500, and $4,500; and one from November 2005 for $11,000. He appeared in Providence 6th Division District Court.
Arthur Johnson, 45, of D & S Development, Smithfield: The CRB ordered Johnson to pay a $500 fine in January 2006. He appeared in Providence 6th Division District Court.
Kevin McGovern, 49, of Bayside Building and Remodeling, Warwick: McGovern was ordered to pay a $4,500 fine to the CRB and $17,000 in restitution to a Warwick homeowner in September 2005. He appeared in Kent 3rd Division District Court.
Rene Valcourt, 52, of Cranston: The CRB ordered Valcourt to make $5,000 in restitution to a Cranston homeowner and to pay a $4,000 fine to the CRB in December 2004. He appeared in Providence 6th Division District Court.
An appellant board consisting of a variety of trades-people, the CRB sets policy, establishes rules and regulations, and hears motions and appeals on claims and violations. The governor appoints the 13-member board, with the exception of a building official representative who is selected by the building commissioner.
The board looks to safeguard consumer rights related to contracted improvements to property while providing an environment for the construction industry.
Under Rhode Island General Law 5-65-19, a person violating a final order of the board or who acts as a contractor without a valid certificate of registration may be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. The Office of Attorney General’s Criminal Division handles prosecutions in Rhode Island District Court for violations of the board’s final orders. The Office of Attorney General and the board have entered into an annual Memorandum of Agreement for the services of an attorney to advise the board and to handle administrative appeals.
Special Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Ryan, who serves as Lynch’s liaison to the CRB, assisted BCI Chief William Devine and BCI investigators in identifying targets in Thursday’s sweep. Sgt. John Flaherty led the efforts of the Rhode Island State Police detectives and troopers who were involved in the arrests.
