$250K Peninsula Elder Abuse Scam Probed: Cops

SAN MATEO, CA — A Central Valley man was arrested earlier this week in connection with a $250,000 elder abuse scam involving fake home maintenance repairs, police said.

Ricardo Sandoval, 44 of Newman (Stanislaus County) was arrested on suspicion of financial elder abuse and contracting without a license (three counts of each), the San Mateo Police Department said in a statement.

Sandoval self-surrendered to authorities Wednesday at the San Mateo County Jail after $150,000 warrant was issued for his arrest, police said.

Sandoval’s arrest culminated a probe that began in August, police said.

The unlicensed furnace installer is accused of targeting his employer’s elderly customers and charging them over $250,000 since 2019 for repairs or installations that were performed based false representations, police said.

Sandoval offered his services to customers at a lower cost and proceeded to charge exorbitant rates for doing little or no work, police said.

Sandoval consistently claimed damage caused by rodents as a ploy to justify false work claims, police said.

Concerned family members of one victim led to the discovery of Sandoval’s scheme, which spanned several San Mateo County cities, police said.

“Our detectives, with the assistance of the (California) State Licensing Board, conducted a forensic financial audit and inspected the homes of some victims to confirm they were either grossly overcharged or work had not been performed,” police said in a statement.

“Several search warrants were authored for records and ultimately, a $150,000 arrest warrant was issued for Sandoval. He currently awaits prosecution by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.”