The Monterey County District Attorney announced that Marco Polo DeLaRosa Zesati, a 37-year-old Castroville resident and owner of “World Class Properties, LLC,” pled no contest to contracting without a license and failing to secure payment of workers’ compensation insurance. He was sentenced to 40 days in county jail, 3 years court probation, and a $1,000 fine.
The Contractor State Licensing Board (“CSLB”) opened an investigation of Zesati in March 2018.
CSLB investigators observed four persons painting and plastering a property owned by Zesati. They determined that he was acting in the capacity of a general B contractor, by undertaking a project of owner builder without the required contractor license, a violation of Business and Professions Code section 7028(a).
Zesati also utilized labor of at least four persons without providing workers’ compensation insurance, a violation of Labor Code section 3700.5.
The CSLB allows an owner to act without a general contractor in charge of a project under the following terms:
For Home Improvements:
– – The work site must be your principal residence that you have occupied for 12 months prior to completion of the work;
– – The work must be performed prior to the sale of the home; and
– – You cannot take advantage of the contractor license exemption on more than two structures during any three-year period.
For construction of new single-family residences:
– – You are limited to selling four or fewer residential structures in one calendar year; and
– – The work necessary to complete the project(s) must be performed by licensed subcontractors.
The case was referred to the District Attorney’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit..
Under California criminal law, business owners need to be aware that California law requires all employers to secure workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Workers’ compensation insurance ensures employees injured on the job have adequate medical coverage and other benefits. Persons have information about suspected workers’ compensation fraud are encouraged to contact the District Attorney’s office at 831-755-3224.