A paving company has been barred from operating in California following serious accusations of intimidation and deception involving a La Mesa family.
In February 2023, Zoe Chakiris reached out to NBC 7 Responds, hoping to alert others about her troubling experience with a contractor who had approached her at home.
Mark Young, claiming to represent Elite Paving, offered to repave Chakiris’ driveway with leftover asphalt from another project.
The agreed-upon price for the job was $3,500. However, two hours later, the situation deteriorated.
Chakiris recounted that after only a third of her driveway was completed, Young demanded more money to continue, prompting her to refuse additional payment.
“I was intimidated; they were bullies,” Chakiris told NBC 7 Responds, explaining she ultimately felt pressured to write a check just to have them leave.
Chakiris described a tense scene as five workers lingered by her home while Young went to the bank to cash the check.
Once they left, she wasted no time contacting the district attorney’s office, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and NBC 7 Responds.
An investigation followed, revealing that Elite Paving held a valid contractor’s license, with Young listed as the sole proprietor.
The company’s Massachusetts address was confirmed, along with its matching phone number found on its website and on the side of a truck parked in Santee.
When NBC 7 reached out to Young, he denied Chakiris’ claims and verbally attacked her character.
He contended that she was aware that the quoted price was only for the excess asphalt, denying any threats or intimidation during their transaction.
Furthermore, he admitted to his oversight in failing to produce a written contract.
Tensions escalated when a man arrived at Chakiris’ door hours after the phone conversation, stating, “Mark said you were making trouble. What do you want?”
Chakiris firmly told him to leave, and he complied.
Following Chakiris’ complaint to the CSLB, the agency took her concerns seriously and launched an investigation.
By January 2025, the CSLB filed a civil complaint against Elite Paving, outlining allegations of misconduct, including:
1. Failure to provide a written contract for the project.
2. Evidence of intimidation and bullying towards Chakiris.
3. Young’s workers directed Chakiris’ elderly father to authorize the bank to cash the check while Young was absent.
4. Abandoning the project and not completing it as agreed.
5. Poor work quality not meeting industry standards.
6. Misrepresentation in his application for a California contractor’s license by omitting prior disciplinary actions from another state’s contractor board.
Scheduled for June 9-10, the administrative hearing regarding these allegations did not take place as expected.
A representative informed Chakiris that a settlement was in negotiation, although the state withheld further details at that time.
Subsequent to these discussions, the CSLB announced a settlement reached with Elite Paving and Young, resulting in a two-year revocation of their contractor’s license.
Additionally, Young has been ordered to pay the state over $8,000 to cover investigation costs.
Calls made to Young for comment went unanswered.
Chakiris later sought another paving company to correctly finish the job, costing her $4,300.
Fortunately, she was able to recover those expenses by filing a claim against Elite Paving’s bond.
While saddened by the recent passing of her father, Chakiris expressed relief that the paving company faced consequences for its actions.
Mark Young’s track record reveals a history of trouble with the law regarding his businesses.
Research conducted by NBC 7 pointed to prior issues reported by WJAR, a sister station in Providence, Rhode Island.
In a 2015 piece, Young’s former company, MTY Paving, had been shut down following numerous complaints of exploiting the elderly with similar tactics.
Twelve complaints led to the company being ordered to refund over $32,000 to victims of their misconduct.
When questioned in 2023 about any connection to MTY Paving, Young flatly denied any knowledge.
However, when presented with a link to the news report from 2015, he chose not to respond.
In light of these troubling incidents, the CSLB offers the following recommendations for homeowners to protect themselves from unscrupulous contractors:
– Always verify the contractor’s license to ensure it is current and check for any disclosed complaints against the business.
– Insist on a written contract detailing the scope of work and including a payment schedule.
– Avoid giving a down payment exceeding 10% or $1,000, whichever is less.
– If issues arise during a project, file a complaint with the CSLB if an agreement cannot be reached with the contractor.
Chakiris’ advice echoes these guidelines: “Do your due diligence. Ask friends and neighbors for referrals.”
image source from：nbcsandiego
