California authorities have charged two men with a 12-year scam in which the pair allegedly posed as licensed professionals and drew up engineering and architectural plans for homes, apartments, commercial properties, and strip malls.
Using stolen software, Wilfrido Rodriguez and Ruben Gutierrez allegedly provided bogus plans for hundreds of buildings in at least 56 Southern California cities beginning in 2003. Because neither of the men had the training, expertise, or credentials to vouch for the safety of the building plans, these structures may have to be demolished.
Authorities said the scope of this case is unprecedented, and at this stage they can’t be sure that the buildings are safe for occupancy. Law enforcement officials are working with the state Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists to determine the scope and risk posed by the alleged fraud.
Rodriguez and Gutierrez had previously worked for the Palos Verdes Engineering Company before initiating the alleged scam.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Nov 4, 2020
Commercial building owners having tougher time securing insurance policies and renewals
Insurers’ fears of civil unrest in wake of election prompt builder’s risk coverage moratoriums.
Codes and Standards | Nov 4, 2020
Turn rooftops into revenue generators with solar arrays
Lease or ownership models for PVs make more sense than ever.
Codes and Standards | Nov 3, 2020
The argument against gas stoves includes degraded indoor air quality
Asthma seems to be aggravated by cooking with flame.
Codes and Standards | Nov 2, 2020
Wildfires can make drinking water toxic
Updated building codes could mitigate the danger.
Adaptive Reuse | Oct 26, 2020
Mall property redevelopments could result in dramatic property value drops
Retail conversions to fulfillment centers, apartments, schools, or medical offices could cut values 60% to 90%.
Codes and Standards | Oct 26, 2020
New seismic provisions for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program released
The provisions present a set of recommended improvements to the ASCE/SEI 7-16 Standard.
Codes and Standards | Oct 22, 2020
More than 130 building projects have engaged LEED’s Safety First Credits in response to COVID-19
Best practices helping companies develop and measure healthy, sustainable, and resilient reopening efforts.
Codes and Standards | Oct 21, 2020
New technologies and techniques can ‘future-proof’ buildings
Net-zero principles may give buildings longer lives.
Codes and Standards | Oct 20, 2020
Updated AIA Contractor’s Qualification Statement and Warranty Bond documents available
Statement now includes safety protocols and plans, sustainability, and BIM experience.
Codes and Standards | Oct 19, 2020
NEXT Coalition chooses five pilot projects to fight COVID-19 on jobsites
Mobile platforms, wearable sensors, AI video systems among the trial solutions.
