LAKE COUNTY ? Three men are charged with crimes related to what Lake County deputy district attorney Rachel Abelson called a “paving scam” that targets people more than 65 years old, or dependant adults.
Gregory Francis Nolan, 52, turned himself in at the Lake County Jail March 5, according to Abelson. He faces 11 counts of elder theft. Nolan was released after George Holland ? a Colorado paving company business owner who testified that he was a friend of Nolan”s ? posted $500,000 bail at a March 10 bail hearing.
Lake County Superior Court Judge Richard Martin ruled that the money was not from a felonious purpose, Abelson said. Nolan was ordered to appear at an April 4 court date for entry of a plea and trial setting.
Abelson said Nolan is one of three suspects believed to be involved in a traveling scam that targets citizens more than 65 years old. The California Contractors State Licensing Board (CLSB) is investigating Nolan and two other men, identified as Richard John Williams, 63, and William Robert Williams, 56. Felony warrants for the two Williams men were issued by the Lake County Superior Court in January 2007, according to the Lake County Sheriff”s Office Web site, www.lakesheriff.com.
“The Contractors State Licensing Board got involved in the investigation of these same defendants in Mendocino County. What they typically do is show up to someone”s house say, ?I have left all this asphalt from a job and it”s just going to go to waste,” and they say they are going to give them a good deal, but they don”t really give them a deal and they do a terrible job. They tend to target elders,” Abelson said.
Abelson said Nolan allegedly had seven victims in Lake County between November 2004 and April 2005, all alleging elder theft. One alleged victim reported losing $9,000 to the men; another victim alleged losing about $2,500, according to Abelson. She added that Nolan was in the process of being extradited from Colorado when Noland turned himself in at the Lake County Jail.
Abelson said Nolan is known to have the aliases Troy Furin and James Kauffman.
CLSB spokesperson Pamela Mares said “Williams” is a common alias for traveling contractors operating scams to use. Mares could not comment specifically on the case, but said things to look out for are door-to-door solicitations, demands for cash up-front and “scare tactics” intended to make a homeowner believe work is urgently needed.
“These people target old people, churches, immigrants ? basically the most vulnerable people,” Mares said. Other common scams involve roofing or painting.
“Ask to see a license and compare with another piece of ID,” Mares said. Information about licensed contractors can be found at www.cslb.ca.gov, or call 1-800-321-2757 for information or to file a complaint.
“It”s important to file a complaint, because the more evidence we have the easier it is to prosecute these people,” Mares said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
