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San Diego County homeowners in debt from uncompleted ADU projects

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San Diego County homeowners in debt from uncompleted ADU projects


Nearly a hundred San Diego County homeowners say a local ADU contractor took out enormous construction loans under each of their names for work that in most cases never even started. The contractor, Multitaskr, was based out of Chula Vista and was licensed to work in the state of California. 

The CEO of Multitasker, Jose Frausto, has not responded to repeated calls, emails and an in-person visit to his home by NBC 7 Investigates. We asked Frausto to explain how his company spent millions of dollars worth of construction loans. The company’s office building in Chula Vista has removed any signage of Multitasker and appears closed. State regulators have suspended Multitaskr’s license while they investigate the complaints lodged against it.


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Multitaskr’s former office location in Chula Vista now sits vacant with notices of undelivered mail on the door.

Some of the lenders are working with homeowners to cancel outstanding debts. In the meantime, dozens of Multitaskr clients are making thousands of dollars worth of loan payments each month for work they never got. 

“It’s expensive already to live here in San Diego,” said Sinthia Garcia. “Let alone being able to have to pay monthly for a house I don’t have.” 

Garcia says she has been paying construction lenders about $4,000 a month since July for an ADU she should already be living in. The 31-year-old social worker told NBC 7 Investigates she didn’t have many options for affordable housing in the San Diego area. 

This ADU project rendering, created by Multitaskr, was included in the contract that Sinthia Garcia signed.
This ADU project rendering, created by Multitaskr, was included in the contract that Sinthia Garcia signed.

An ADU behind her family’s San Ysidro home seemed ideal, not only in price, but in proximity to her ailing mother in need of caregiving support. Instead, Garcia now says she is burning through savings to be able to cover the monthly loan payments.

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“It’s disheartening in a sense that I can’t move forward,” said Sinthia Garcia. “Because I’m stuck essentially.”

Sinthia Garcia (left) and her mother Ana Garcia (right), prepare lunch in their kitchen.


NBC 7

Sinthia Garcia (left) and her mother Ana Garcia (right), prepare lunch in their kitchen.

Garcia is one of dozens of Multitaskr clients seeking financial relief through the court system. Her attorney, Masuad Ghulam has four current lawsuits against Multitaskr.

“I think that it really could happen to anyone,” Ghulam said. “You have this company with amazing reviews on the internet…that they do all the financing in-house for clients. They were really a one-stop shop for everything.”

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NBC 7 Investigates scoured court records and counted nearly 100 homeowners in San Diego County who have already filed lawsuits against the contractor. The homeowners claim Multitaskr took out cash loans totaling $15 million; money the contractor was supposed to spend on building accessory dwelling units or ADUs.

This animation shows the locations of plaintiffs suing Multitaskr.


NBC 7

This animation shows the locations of plaintiffs suing Multitaskr.

In the meantime, state protections offer little relief. 

“You’re not protected at all by these safeguards that you think would be in place,” said Robin Owen, who owns a home in Escondido and a rental property in downtown San Diego. 

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Owen hired Multitaskr to build an ADU at each of his properties. The contractor took out more than $900,000 under Owen’s name. The permits were approved last year, but a shovel has yet to hit the ground on either project, and Owen says the company won’t respond to his calls or emails.

Robin Owen shows NBC 7 Investigates where an ADU was supposed to be built at his property in San Marcos.


NBC 7

Robin Owen shows NBC 7 Investigates where an ADU was supposed to be built at his property in San Marcos.

Licensed contractors in California are only required to have $25,000 of bond insurance. The money is supposed to go to clients when contractors fail to do the work they’re hired to do. If more than one homeowner files a claim against a contractor’s bond, the clients have to split the payout. However, the average claim against Multitaskr to build a single ADU easily exceeds $200,000. 

“It allows people to be in business,” says Katherine White, Chief of Public Affairs for the Contractors State License Board. “The problem is as we move up that bond it makes it trickier for us to vet the process, and for us to allow all the contractors to have this valid bond.”

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It is against the law for a contractor to collect money for work that is not finished or material that is not delivered. A down payment cannot exceed $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, and subsequent payments cannot exceed the cost of materials and labor. 

While it’s illegal for contractors to accept a lump sum ahead of completing a project, apparently it’s not illegal for lenders to give them a bunch of cash all at once. State regulators with the Department of Financial Protection & Innovation told NBC 7 Investigates that there is nothing illegal about a lender paying a contractor for an entire project in full and upfront.

As part of the suspension of Multitaskr’s license, the Contractors State License Board is reviewing eleven complaints. Depending on the outcome of that investigation, information could be referred to the California Attorney General or the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for potential criminal prosecution.



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San Diego, CA

Man fatally struck by hit-and-run vehicle in San Diego

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Man fatally struck by hit-and-run vehicle in San Diego


A man in the Mission Bay Park community of San Diego was fatally struck Sunday morning by a hit-and run vehicle, authorities said.

The victim was also struck by a second vehicle and that motorist stayed at the scene to cooperate with officers, the San Diego Police Department reported.

The initial crash occurred at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday in the area of West Mission Bay and Sea World drives.

The pedestrian was in the southbound lanes of the 2000 block of West Mission Bay Drive when he was struck by a silver vehicle also in the southbound lanes. That vehicle fled the scene, continuing southbound, police said.

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A 28-year-old man driving his vehicle southbound ran over the downed pedestrian.

“That driver remained at the scene and is not DUI,” according to a police statement. “The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

Anyone with information regarding the initial crash was urged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.



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Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records

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Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records


San Diego County is known for having wet, cold weather in February. But it had numerous hot spells this year. And when the month ended on Saturday a high pressure system produced heat that broke or tied temperature records in nine communities from the desert to the sea, the National Weather Service said.

The most notable temperature occurred in Borrego Springs, which reached 99, five degrees higher than the previous record for Feb. 28, set in 1986. The 99 reading is also the highest temperature ever recorded in Borrego in February.

Escondido reached 95, tying a record set in 1901.

El Cajon reached 92, three degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

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Ramona topped out at 88, five degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

Alpine hit 88, four degrees higher the record set in 1986.

Campo reached 87, four degrees higher than the record set in 1999.

Vista hit 86, four degrees higher than the record set in 2020.

Chula Vista reached 84, one degree higher than the record set in 2020.

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Lake Cuyamaca rose to 76, four degrees higher than the record set in 1986.

Forecasters say the weather is not likely to broadly produce new highs on Sunday. Cooler air is moving to the coast, and on Monday, San Diego’s high will only reach 67, a degree above normal.

 



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Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

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Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title


OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.

“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.

So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.

With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.

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The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.

Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”

One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.

“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”

Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run.  Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.

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Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.

“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.

As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.

Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”

Francis Parker High’s Jordan Brown shoots against Westview High during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.

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The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.

“She’s a great player,” said Brown.

“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”

Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.

“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”

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Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.

Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.

About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”

Francis Parker High's Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Francis Parker High’s Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.

Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.

“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.

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Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.

“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”



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