Valleywide : Contractors Charged in Quake Repair Sting

Officials charged 18 unlicensed contractors Friday with ripping off San Fernando Valley homeowners by accepting money for repairs of damage caused by the Northridge quake then abandoning the projects.

The charges grew out of investigations by the Contractors State Licensing Board, which sometimes conducted sting operations with agents posing as homeowners, Deputy City Atty Don Cocek said.

Named in criminal complaints are Sione “Jose” Manu, 54, of Van Nuys; Sitiveni Tai, also known as Steven Tai, 31, of Hawthorne; Talikavili Tali Lata, 31, of Inglewood; David Wayne Lopez, 53, of Sylmar; Bill Weisbaum, 66, of Alhambra; Eric Raymond Brownlee, 37, of Sherman Oaks; Toribio “Toby” Ramirez, 53, of Playa del Rey; and Ernesto Laurel Guzman, 39, of North Hollywood.

Also charged are Lawrence Wayne Friend, 39, of Van Nuys; Miguel Hernandez, 30, of Sun Valley; Milton Kenneth Cohen, 52, of North Hollywood; Gerald Douglas Azulay, 51, of San Bernardino; John Gary McCormick, 30, of Simi Valley; Rick Garcia, 37, of Granada Hills; Joseph Darryl Hymes, 32, of Canoga Park; Joe Ernest Valverde, 76, of Reseda; Colin Melvyn Berry, 37, of Reseda; and Makasini Taufui Pahulu, 37, of Northridge.

If convicted, each faces a possible year in year and a fine of $1,000.