A Riverside, California, contractor fraud investigation has led to the arrest of a man accused of posing as a licensed plumbing contractor, stealing from an elderly resident and using a stolen contractor license number. Pla2na / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Authorities say the suspect used a stolen contractor license number
by HANNAH BELLOLI-OSTER
Authorities in Riverside, California, have arrested a contractor following an investigation into a late-April complaint from an 80-year-old resident who reported that a plumbing contractor had taken their money without performing any work.
Christian Arellano was arrested by Riverside Police following an investigation into allegations of contractor fraud, elder abuse, and impersonating a licensed contractor. Photo courtesy of the Riverside Police Department.
The plumbing contractor in question was 32-year-old Christian Arellano of Fontana, California. According to police, Arellano was operating under the company name Prime Plumbing & Sewer — which turned out to be a fake company. During the investigation, it was also discovered that Arellano was not a licensed contractor and on the victim’s invoice had allegedly used a contractor license number he had stolen from a legitimate contractor in Nuevo, California.
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Police say Arellano collected $1,000 from the homeowner and never returned to complete the job.
And it wasn’t the first time Arellano had done this. According to CBS News, Arellano was already on probation in Los Angelos and San Bernadino counties for similar crimes. Furthermore, investigators reported he had three active felony warrants in Idaho for contractor-fraud, along with a misdemeanor warrant in Riverside Country.
Arellano was booked for burglary, embezzlement, impersonating a contractor, and elder abuse. He is currently being held on a $150,000 bail — and if he attempts to post bond, the Riverside Police Department is requiring him to verify any source of funds.
Investigators also believe that additional victims may exist and are encouraging anyone who may have been targeted by Arellano’s fraudulent behavior to contact authorities.
Hannah Belloli-Oster is editor-in-chief of Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times. She brings six years of experience as a trade journalist with BNP Media, including four years as an editor at The ACHR NEWS and two years with Walls & Ceilings. Hannah holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Wayne State University, where she also earned minors in English, journalism, and creative writing. As the daughter of a carpenter, she has long held an appreciation for the skilled trades and the professionals who drive the industry forward.
