CPUC Investigations Result in Enforcement Actions and Fines Imposed
on Various Moving Companies

SAN FRANCISCO, December 17, 2014 – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in its ongoing commitment to consumer protection, took a number of actions in the third quarter of 2014 to protect consumers from illegally operating moving companies. This includes companies operating in violation of the Public Utilities Code and CPUC rules and regulations, including Maximum Rate Tariff 4 (MAX 4), which contains maximum rates that carriers must observe as well as rules and regulations governing intrastate moves.

Criminal Filings

• Chris Viboch and CV Services, Inc. DBA CV Pickup and Delivery Service, San Diego (Unlicensed) Case HHG 2155: CPUC requested that the San Diego District Attorney’s Office file a misdemeanor complaint against this company for operating without CPUC authority. On March 3, 2014, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office filed a four-count misdemeanor complaint in San Diego Superior Court for violations of LC 3700.5 (two counts) and PU Code 5133 (two counts), and operating and advertising without CPUC authority. On July 9, 2014, Chris Viboch pled to one count of PU code 5133 and was sentenced to 3 years informal probation, ordered to pay a fine of $522, stipulated to restitution in the amount of $2,500, and paid $350 to two victims.
  
  
• Jonathan Sheridan DBA Coast Movers, Bonsall (Unlicensed): CPUC staff requested that the San Diego District Attorney’s Office file a misdemeanor complaint against this company. In July 2014, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office filed an eight-count misdemeanor complaint in San Diego Superior Court for violations of LC 3700.5 (four counts), PU Code 5133 (one count), and operating and advertising without CPUC authority (three counts). On September 2, 2014, Jonathan Sheridan was sentenced to three years of informal probation and agreed to pay $900 in restitution to the victim and $1,500 to the workers’ compensation insurance fraud fund.
  
  
• Samuel Arthur Hunt & Darryl Dean Whitis DBA S&D Moving & Delivery (Unlicensed): CPUC staff requested that the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office file a misdemeanor complaint against this company. In July 2014, the company was charged with a felony count of violating Penal Code Section 487(a) grand theft more than $400; violating PU Code section 5133 (one count); Section 17500 of the Business and Professions Code (one count); and PU Code section 5314.5 (one count). On September 24, 2014, the defendants received 3 years of summary probation, agreed to not advertise or operate as a mover without a CPUC permit, and agreed to pay $500 to the CPUC for investigative costs along with court costs.

Administrative Citations
Kim McNair DBA Remington Moving & Storage LLC (MTR 191003) based in Gardena was fined $2,500 for the following violations:

• Failed to issue Combined Agreements
• Various MAX 4 violations

Ivan Mishkin DBA Globus Moving LLC (MTR 191121) based in Canoga Park was fined
$1,500 for the following violations:

• Various MAX 4 violations

Phone Disconnections
As part of its ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal moving companies, the CPUC had telephone service shut off to moving companies operating in California without a household goods permit. The following companies continued to advertise and hold themselves out to engage in the business of transporting used household goods, notwithstanding CPUC staff directives to immediately cease and desist unlawful acts and to obtain a household goods permit:

• Richard Zarr DBA Am West Moving Systems, Alameda (Unlicensed): This company advertised on the Internet as an entity of Chipman Relocations without authorization. Notwithstanding a CPUC staff’s cease and desist notice directing the company to immediately cease all unlawful advertisements and operations, the company continued to violate the law as evidenced by advertisements on the Internet. On July 22, 2014, CPUC staff obtained a Finding of Probable Cause signed by an Alameda County Superior Court Judge. The Finding ordered disconnection of telephone service to the telephone number advertised and used by the carrier to violate criminal laws in California.
  
  
• McGuire Movers, San Francisco (Unlicensed): This company advertised and offered moving services on the Internet. Notwithstanding a CPUC staff’s cease and desist letter directing the company to immediately cease all unlawful advertisements and operations, the company continued to violate the law. On August 25, 2014, CPUC staff obtained a Finding of Probable Cause signed by a San Francisco Superior Court Judge. The Finding ordered the disconnection of telephone service to the numbers advertised and used by the carrier to violate criminal laws in California.
  
  
• Heath D. Mansell, an Individual doing business as Chico Independent Moving Co. Chico (Unlicensed): This company advertised and offered moving services on the Internet. Notwithstanding a CPUC staff’s cease and desist letter directing the company to immediately cease all unlawful advertisements and operations, the company continued to violate the law. On August 28, 2014, CPUC staff obtained a Finding of Probable Cause and Order signed by a Butte County Superior Court Judge. The Finding ordered the disconnection of telephone service to the number advertised and used by the company to violate the criminal laws in California.
  
  
• HHG 2197 Keller Bros. Moving, Inc. (unlicensed): This company advertised and offered used household goods moving services on the Internet without having obtained a permit. Notwithstanding a CPUC staff’s cease and desist letter directing the company to immediately cease all unlawful advertisements and operations, the company continued to violate the law. On September 30, 2014, CPUC staff obtained a Finding of Probable Cause signed by a Riverside County Superior Court Judge. The Finding ordered disconnection of telephone service to the number advertised and used by the company to violate criminal laws in California.

Overcharges and Refunds
CPUC staff assisted and/or directed moving companies to refund consumers more than $14,000 for overcharges and other violations of the MAX 4.

Cease and Desist Notice
Twenty companies were issued a cease and desist notice for operating and advertising without a valid permit (unlicensed, revoked or denied). Additionally, in response to a consumer complaint, more than 100 notices were sent to suspected illegal household goods carriers in the San Diego area. The following companies were issued a cease and desist notice:

1. Dilmurod Madaminov DBA La Mesa Movers, La Mesa (MTR 191131)
2. Brendon Attias DBA South Coast Moving, Irvine (Unlicensed)
3. Eddie Tavares DBA Eddie Tavares Packing and Loading, Milpitas (Unlicensed)
4. Craig Gilliam DBA Five Star Moving, Clovis (Unlicensed)
5. Move Inc., Canoga Park (MTR None) (Unlicensed)
6. The Movers, Beaumont (Unlicensed)
7. Campus Bellhops Inc., Chattanooga, TN (Unlicensed)
8. Timothy Wosick DBA Bottom Line Results Moving, Citrus Heights (Unlicensed)
9. Ralph Butler DBA Stress Free Moves and Packing, Sacramento, (Unlicensed)
10. Markis F Stone Jr. DBA Bubbas Moving Company, San Diego (MTR 190605)
11. City of Angels Incorporated, Pasadena (Unlicensed)
12. Nola I. Ramos DBA Top 10 Moving, San Mateo (MTR 191120 Denied)
13. Dream Team Movers, Sacramento (Unlicensed)
14. Brendon Attias DBA South Coast Moving, Irvine (Unlicensed)
15. Julio’s Moving, Santa Barbara (Unlicensed)
16. Aussie Movers, Los Angeles (MTR 190903) (Revoked)
17. Donnell and Richard DBA The Movers, Hemet. (Unlicensed)
18. Edgar Khachatryan DBA SF Local Moving, San Francisco (Unlicensed)
19. Eddie Tavares DBA Eddie Tavares Packing and Loading, Milpitas (Unlicensed)
20. Dan Dubow DBA Dan the Mover, Castro Valley (Unlicensed)

For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.

CPUC Investigations Result in Enforcement Actions and Fines Imposed on Various Moving Companies

- CMSA Communicator