Unlicensed Contractor Arrested After Scamming Dozens Of Las Vegas Locals

It's monsoon season in Las Vegas. The time of year when tons of unlicensed contractors come out of the woodwork to scam local residents. But one of them isn't going to be doing that this year. After finally getting arrested for his string of crimes.

Brett Benson was providing contracting services in Las Vegas under the name of Security Screen Masters or sometimes SSM of Nevada, fox5vegas reported. He had a contractor's license (#81295) with the state of Nevada up until 2020. That is when it was revoked with the Nevada State Contractors Board for a string of complaints by customers.

Losing his license meant he should have stopped doing contractor work in Las Vegas. But Benson didn't stop. In fact, he kept scamming customers out of their money. An investigation by the Nevada State Contractors Board found 17 counts of money theft by Benson. Additionally, the board found four counts of possession of a debit or credit card without the owner's consent. Benson was also charged with possession of documents and IDs intended to commit forgery.

The NSCB also discovered that Benson provided a written contract for 18 jobs that he then got a down payment for. He collected a total of $151,000 with those contracts, and then never returned to perform the work. Benson wasn't easy to catch. It was an undercover operation by the NSCB that lead to Benson's arrest. He is being held without bail and a hearing is scheduled for August 28, fox5vegas reported.

While there is some recourse for consumers who get scammed by someone without a license, there are not nearly as many resources available as there are if a licensed contractor fails to perform work. Benson also worked under the aliases Brett Jordan, Brett Jordon and Brett Zimmer, according to fox5vegas.com. If you were a victim of Benson or any other unlicensed contractor, you can file a claim with the NSCB at nscb.nv.gov.

- Wendy Rush, 96.3 KKLZ

We have actually experienced springtime here in Las Vegas. We usually have at least a few days of triple digit high temperatures during May and into early June. However, we tied the record for the latest 100-degree day on Friday, June 30^th. The last time we went that long without a triple-digit high temperature was back in 1965. However, it's time to get ready for our first heat wave of 2023.

If you visit Las Vegas frequently, or if you have lived here for some time, you know that we like to do things BIG in this city. So, when summer finally arrives, you know it is going to be “Hot Hot Hot!” We officially topped out at 100 degrees on Friday, June 30^th.

At the present time, the National Weather Service has issued an “excessive heat warning” for Southern Nevada. Evidently, it will continue from 11am Saturday, July 1^st through 8pm Monday, July 3^rd. You can expect high temperatures up around 110 degrees.

However, according to Weather.com, the 10-day forecast looks like summer has definitely arrived in earnest. You can eventually expect high temperatures to stay in the range of 102-107 degrees between the 4^th of July and the middle of the month.

You could say that I have incorrectly titled this piece. I guess I can’t argue with that, since we really don’t get “heat waves” like other cities around the nation. When summer hits in Las Vegas, it pretty much stays with us into the middle part of September. Sometimes, even later than that. Sure, there might be a day or two here and there where it is overcast with a chance of rain. But, for the most part, summer is here to stay. I guess we’re all used to it by now.

Conversely, it sure was nice to enjoy a spring without any 100+-degree days. I don’t know if you want to call this a musical celebration. But music always cheers me up. I hope these seven great songs featured on 96.3 KKLZ will lift your spirits a bit. Stay cool!

Definitely one of my favorite Foreigner tracks. This was a big hit from their 1978 Double Vision album. And, after living in Las Vegas for almost 30 years, I am certainly "hot blooded" by now. I don't think I could actually live through a cold winter like the ones I lived through in New England back in the day.

Did you know that Donna Summer, the "Queen of Disco," won a Grammy Award for "Best Female Rock Vocal Performance?" It was for this song, "Hot Stuff." Pat Benatar would win that award the next four years in-a-row. It certainly is a dance song that rocks, with an amazing guitar solo in the middle of the tune. If you are actually looking for some "Hot Stuff," you'll find it here in the Las Vegas valley this weekend. Probably all "Donna Summer" long.

After the Eagles disbanded in 1980, they all went their separate ways to pursue solo careers. Don Henley and Glenn Frey had the most success as solo artists during the 1980's. Frey was offered this song by music composers working on the soundtrack for the upcoming film Beverly Hills Cop, starring Eddie Murphy. According to Wikipedia.org, Frey agreed to record the song. He performs lead vocals, of course, as well as backing vocals and the guitar solo. "The Heat Is On" became one of his biggest hit singles, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March of 1985.

The English supergroup Asia included former members of Yes, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and the Buggles. Their self-titled debut album was the best selling album in the U.S.A. in 1982, according to Wikipedia.org. "Heat Of The Moment" is the band's biggest hit single. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and spent a total of 6 weeks at the top of the "Rock Tracks" chart. Fans of the TV show South Park will remember that Eric Cartman sings the song during the 2001 episode "Kenny Dies."

This song will always put you in a party mood. It's just plain fun. "Buster Poindexter" is the alter ego of singer, musician, and actor, David Johansen. He was the lead singer of the New York Dolls, one of the trailblazers of the U.S.A. punk rock scene during the 1970's. "Hot Hot Hot" got lots of airplay on MTV, and per Wikipedia.org, it peaked at #45 on the Billboard Hot 100. It still gets played quite a bit at wedding receptions and karaoke bars. "Fiesta!!"

This was Billy Idol's first single release to break into the Billboard Top 40, per Wikipedia.org. "Hot In The City" was originally released as the lead single from his self-titled 1982 album, and it peaked at #23. Near the end of the decade, the song received renewed interest and popularity after being featured in the limo ride scene in the hit movie Big, starring Tom Hanks.

This great Motown song originated with the female trio Martha & The Vandellas. It has been covered by many recording artists down through the years, most notably by Linda Ronstadt, who scored a top 5 smash with the song in 1975. According to Wikipedia.org, in 2010, Phil Collins hit the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with his version of the song. It certainly is one of those great "feel good" songs from the hey dey of Motown Records. To hear the original by Martha & The Vandellas on YouTube, click here. To see a live concert version from Linda Ronstadt on YouTube, click here.

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