CPUC INVESTIGATIONS RESULT IN ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AND FINES IMPOSED ON VARIOUS MOVING COMPANIES

SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2016 – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in its ongoing commitment to consumer protection, took the following enforcement actions during the first quarter of 2016 against moving companies for violations 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
Gregory M. Pinto, an individual doing business as (dba) Greg’s Moving and Delivery (Unlicensed): The CPUC requested that the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office file a misdemeanor complaint against the carrier for advertising without CPUC authority pursuant to PUC Section 5314.5. The case is pending assignment to Deputy District Attorney.

Complaint # 6CJ00037 Jojo’s Delivery In Motion, Long Beach (Unlicensed):  The CPUC requested that the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office file a misdemeanor complaint against the carrier for operating and advertising as a used household goods moving business without having a valid operating authority issued by the CPUC in violation of PU Code 5131, 5133 and 5314.5; failure to procure and continue in effect evidence of PLPD, cargo, worker’s compensation insurance coverage with CPUC in violation of PU Code 5161(a)(c) and 5135.5(a)(1); and failure to obtain and include signatures of carrier and shipper and show change order of services on shipping documents in violations of MAX 4, Items 128 & 132.  

Update

Case # M094830, Rustam Kholov and Umed Salomov, a general partnership dba San Francisco Moving, Belmont and Andrey Slivko dba Vector Moving, San Diego (MTR 190802): The CPUC requested that the San Diego District Attorney’s Office file a misdemeanor complaint against the carrier for operating without workers compensation insurance coverage. At a January 4, 2016, court hearing, the three defendants provided proof of current workers compensation insurance and paid restitution of $4,500 to the Workers’ Comp Fraud Fund and their cases were dismissed.

Case # M094878, Markis Frederick Stone Jr. dba Bubbas Moving Company, San Diego (MTR 190605): The CPUC requested that the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office file a misdemeanor complaint against the carrier for operating and advertising without CPUC authority. On March 29, 2016, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office filed a 4-count misdemeanor complaint in San Diego County Superior Court for violations of PU Code 5133 (1 count), PU Code 5314.5 (1 count) Labor Code 3700.5(a) failure to have workers compensation (1 count), and Labor Code 226(c) failure to comply with a records request (1 count). The carrier plead guilty to 3-counts (PU 5314.5 and LC 3700.5(a) and LC 226(c)) and was sentenced to 3 years of informal probation, ordered to pay standard court fines, stipulate to pay $500 restitution by April 15, 2016, obey all laws and Labor Code requirements, and comply with all Department of Industrial Relations requests.

Administrative Citations
Tam Nguyen and Bill Pham dba Tam Moving, Fountain Valley (MTR 191074), was fined $3,000 for the following violations:
Operated as a household goods carrier without a valid permit
Operated without evidence of cargo insurance on file and in effect
Failed to include a “Not to Exceed Price” on all freight bills
Failed to provide and properly complete the “Important Notice About Your Move” to shippers
Failed to complete and issue a Combined Agreement for Moving Services and Freight Bills

Valencia Moving and Storage Co Inc., Santa Clarita (MTR 187197), was fined $1,500 for the following violations:
Failed to issue “Combined Agreements for Moving Services and Freight Bills
Failed to include “Not To Exceed” prices on “Combined Agreements”

Jack William Glodich dba Two Brothers Moving Truck, Costa Mesa (MTR 134650), was fined $5,000 for the following violations:
Operated without evidence of workers compensation insurance on file and in effect
Maximum Tariff 4 violations
Failed to report accurate gross revenue from household goods operations

Aaron Jacob Labrano dba Monster Moving, Huntington Beach (MTR 190950), was fined $5,000 for the following violations:
Operated as a household goods carrier without a valid permit
Operated without evidence of cargo insurance on file and in effect
Failed to include a “Not to Exceed Price” on the Combined Service Agreements
Failed to properly complete the “Important Notice About Your Move” to shippers
Maximum Tariff 4 violations

Dozhin Sergey dba European Moving Services based in Los Angeles (MTR 191371), was fined $1,500 for the following violations:
Operated without PLPD insurance
Failed to include a “Not to Exceed Price” on combined agreements

Telephone Disconnections

As part of its ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal household goods movers, the CPUC had telephone service shut off to two household goods carriers operating in California without authority. These companies continued to advertise and hold themselves out to engage in the business of transporting household goods and personal effects, notwithstanding CPUC staff directives to immediately cease and desist unlawful acts and to obtain a household goods carrier permit.

Thomas J. Carty dba Carty Moving and Storage, San Francisco (MTR 189107- Denied): The carrier advertised and offered household goods moving services on the Internet without a permit. The advertisement listed three telephone numbers. Notwithstanding the CPUC’s Cease and Desist letter directing the carrier to immediately cease all unlawful advertisements and operations, the carrier continued to violate the law. On February 04, 2016, the CPUC obtained a Finding of Probable Cause signed by a San Francisco County Superior Court Judge ordering the disconnection of telephone service to the numbers advertised and used by the carrier to violate criminal laws in the State of California.
Small Move Pros, Inc., dba SF Bay Small Moves, Small Move, Small Move Pros, San Francisco (Unlicensed): The carrier advertised and offered household goods moving services on the Internet. The advertisements listed one phone number. Notwithstanding the CPUC’s Cease and Desist notice directing the carrier to immediately cease all unlawful advertisements and operations the carrier continued to violate the law. On February 1, 2016, the CPUC obtained a Finding of Probable Cause signed by a San Francisco County Superior Court Judge ordering the disconnection of telephone service to the number advertised and used by the carrier to violate criminal laws in the State of California.

Official Notices
Twelve companies received official notices for one or more of these violations:
Advertised and operated without authority (prior to issuance, expired, or suspended)
Engaged employees without workers’ compensation insurance on file and in effect
Failed to include (Cal PUC T) authority number in advertisements
Maximum Rate Tariff 4 violations
Knowingly and intentionally filed a false report that understates revenues and fees

Companies receiving notice:
S and D Moving Services, Inc., dba Pasadena Moving Company, Pasadena (MTR 190877)
White Glove Logistics, Inc., Los Angeles (MTR 191412)
Raul Flores dba Bakersfield F & F Movers, Bakersfield (Unlicensed)
Daniel Kennedy, Los Angeles (Unlicensed)
Pleskun Vladislav dba Royal Moving Co., Santa Clarita. (MTR 191203)
Good Hands Movers, Thousand Oaks (Unlicensed)
Patrick Rickey dba Rickey’s Gold Country Moving, Grass Valley (Unlicensed)
Rade Radakovich dba Greystone Relocation Concierge, Los Angeles (Unlicensed)
M & M Movers, East Palo Alto (Unlicensed)
JPX Professional Movers, Los Angeles (MTR 191427)
White Glove Movers, Palmdale (Unlicensed)
Hollywood Moving & Storage Inc., Los Angeles. (MTR 189467)

Overcharges and Refunds

The CPUC assisted and/or directed moving companies to refund consumers more than $15,000 for overcharges and other violations of the Maximum Rate Tariff 4.

Cease and Desist Notice
The following companies were issued a Cease and Desist notice for operating and advertising without a valid permit (unlicensed, revoked, or denied):

David Moyal, dba Pasadena Moving & Storage, West Hills (Unlicensed)
E.W. Express Inc., Hawaiian Gardens, (Unlicensed)
Donnies Piano Transportation, Glendora,  (Unlicensed)
One Moving Kind of Guy, L.A. (Unlicensed)
City of Angels Moving, L.A. (Unlicensed)
Charlie’s Moving System, L.A. (Unlicensed)
Daily Transportation, San Gabriel, (Unlicensed)
White Glove Movers, Palmdale, (Unlicensed)
Long Beach Pro Movers, Long Beach (Unlicensed)
M & J Trucking and Delivery Co., L.A., (Unlicensed)
Tony Joseph Amaral dba Tony’s Moving Service, San Francisco (Unlicensed)
Matteo Porcedda dba Students with Muscle Moving Service, San Mateo (Unlicensed)
Thomas Tadao Nakane dba Chargers Moving Company, San Diego (Unlicensed)
Go Ahead, Inc. dba Go Pro Moving & Storage, San Jose (MTR 190383)
Radu Binzari dba SF Moving, Oakland (Unlicensed)
Xiao Yun Xu dba Xu’s Moving Company, San Francisco (Unlicensed)
Mario Lopez dba M&M Movers, East Palo Alto (Unlicensed)
Irving Jauregui Ceja and Lucas Brandon Larson dba Two Strong Movers, Riverside (Unlicensed)
Baldemar Jimenez dba Jim’s Moving Co., Santa Ana (Unlicensed)
Orange County Delivery Services, Inc., Aliso Viejo (Unlicensed)
Aaron Jacob Labrano dba Monster Moving, Huntington Beach (MTR 190950)
Bartle Brothers Moving Inc., San Diego (MTR 189253)
Louis Pacheco dba Louie’s Moving, Lancaster (MTR 190804)
Baldemar Jimenez dba Jim’s Moving Co., Santa Ana (Unlicensed)
Go Ahead, Inc. dba Go Pro Moving Storage, San Jose (MTR 190383)
Fabio & Joshua Mazzarelli dba Two Strong Men & A Truck, Cathedral City (Unlicensed)
Gerald & Travis Hatfield dba Hatfield Moving, Garden Grove (Unlicensed)
Gabriel Oaxaca Peralta dba GOP Moving Company, Orange (Unlicensed)
Richard Thomas Villalobos dba Professional Full Service Movers, San Diego (Unlicensed)
Rapid Movers, Orange (Unlicensed)
Jeff Todd dba PCH Movers, Newport Beach (Unlicensed)
Ruff & Ready Moving LLC, Lake Elsinore (MTR 191454)
Ignacio Sanchez dba Nacho’s Moving, San Jose (Unlicensed)
Bobby Martinez dba Far North Movers, Fremont (Unlicensed)
Less 4 Movers Inc., Costa Mesa (MTR 190816)

- CMSA Communicator