Man charged in labor inspection scam (netted him thousands of dollars from victims)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/bay-area-news/ci_13868536

By Harry Harris
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 11/25/2009 04:32:52 PM PST
Updated: 11/25/2009 09:10:15 PM PST

OAKLAND — Flashing a badge and toting official-looking documents, the man would show up at small businesses across Oakland clad in a blazer and tie claiming to be a state or federal Labor Department inspector.

He would survey the premises, finding what he said were violations of labor rules and regulations that could cost the businesses between $10,000 and $33,000 in fines.

But then he would tell the nervous merchant the violations would not be reported if they could pay him a small amount — between $350 and $800 — by check, and he would go away.

Most paid out of fear. But they did so to a phony inspector who should never have received a dime, police said.

Suspect Michael Bolanos was arrested Nov. 4 and has been charged with multiple misdemeanor counts of impersonating a state officer and felony counts of theft and extortion involving 10 victims who have identified him so far.

Bolanos, who is thought to be from Hayward, was running a scam that netted him thousands of dollars from victims, police said. Because he has used different birth dates, police believe he could be 33 or 35.

FULL story at link.

[Adsos Letter]

1. Paid.By.Check....

Not only criminal, but criminally stupid.

[Joesunionreview]

2. So all these "businesses"

So all these "businesses" were terrified because they knew they were guilty of labor infractions, too bad this guy got caught, if the state collected the correct taxes they could have their own inspectors.