Court Settles With Contractor Accused of Fraud

The county has settled its case against a contractor snagged by investigators in the Crestmoor disaster area and charged with a misdemeanor labor code violation.

William Warfield pleaded no contest to the single count. San Mateo County Judge Richard Livermore placed the Millbrae man on two years’ probation and levied a $10,000 fine on him, suspending $9,500.

Warfield, 51, holds a valid contractor’s license, but was found not to have a worker’s compensation policy for an employee. Warfield was with violating state contracting laws in connection with work done in the fire-ravaged area. 

A team of investigators from two state agencies and the county district attorney's office had been scoping the area for unqualified or unscrupulous contractors who might be exploiting homeowners who needed repair work.

Both men said they had not been seeking work and were in the area for other reasons, but they agreed to help a resident at no charge when asked.