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Yahoo!Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Detectives are looking for 40-year-old Gilbert Lee Martinez who has been allegedly been ripping off customers while posing as a licensed landscaper. Cases have been reported in the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys as well as in Los Alamos. According to the Sheriff’s Department, Martinez is suspected of contacting potential tree trimming clients, quoting a price, and then taking money up front without ever returning to complete the agreed-upon work. Over the last few weeks, the Department has received numerous complaints from victims — many of whom are elderly — some of whom reportedly paid Martinez up to $2,000 for landscaping contracts that were never honored.
SBPD
Gilbert Lee Martinez
Martinez is said to be driving a 2004 Ford Truck with license plate 5MFC401 that usually displays magnetic signs saying “Jan’s Gardening” and, according to detectives, his contract paperwork reads “Tropical Treasures.” Martinez, who does not have a contractor’s license, has two outstanding warrants for his arrest including a felony warrant for probation violation.
Sheriff’s Detectives encourage anyone with information regarding the case to contact them directly at 805-681-4100 or to call the Department’s anonymous tip line at 805-681-4171.
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What does having paid for a license have to do with whether a person is honorable or not? All it means is that the individual paid his extortion fees to the local government for the right to work.
I have dealt with licensed and unlicensed people, and have found good and bad in both populations.
Once again it boils down to doing your homework, and NEVER paying up front for ANYTHING. My family dealt with a licensed landscaper and it was a nightmare.
So, in summary, paying for a piece of paper does not assure anything...except that the person paid for his piece of paper.
Caveat Emptor.
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Holly (anonymous profile)
May 22, 2009 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree 100% about having or not having a license and NEVR pay up front for anything. Always ask and check references. This piece of S**t guy was just plain out ripping people off and mostly preying on the elderly.
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oigie1 (anonymous profile)
May 26, 2009 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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