Hesperia man accused of $30,000 contracting scam, additional victims sought

Investigators are looking for potential additional victims after a Hesperia man was arrested this week on suspicion of stealing $30,000 from a Crestline homeowner through a contracting scam, authorities said.

Ruben Concepcion, 30, was booked on suspicion of grand theft and theft by false pretenses after being taken into custody at his Hesperia home on Monday morning, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials and county booking records.

A Crestline resident had recently hired Concepcion to perform residential construction work, officials said.

"Concepcion operated his business under the name Dreamscapes Full Exterior Landscaping and presented his company as a legitimate business to the victim," sheriff's officials said in a written statement. "Deputies discovered Concepcion collected money but did not perform the work he promised. The loss to the victim was $30,000.00."

Detectives then found that the suspect was already on probation due to a previous conviction of operating without a contractor's license in San Bernardino County and was being sought on "multiple warrants" in Riverside County related to alleged theft by fraud and grand theft, according to the department.

"Based on this investigation, it is believed there may be additional victims in the mountain communities," the statement said.

Concepcion was being held without bail after his probation was revoked, records show. He was scheduled to make an initial appearance Friday in San Bernardino County Superior Court.

Anyone with information on the case was asked to contact the Sheriff's Twin Peaks Station at (909)336-3600. Information may also be provided anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463.