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Ed Smart didn't know that Ricci was a felon That does sound naive, but it does happen. My sister is the office manager for a home contractor here, they just started doing background checks on their people in January. We are too trusting for the most part here in Utah..

LOL! I hold a home contractor license in the state of Utah and there aren't many that are naive and trusting or they'd likely be out of business forthwith. Maybe pennypinching, cornercutting, and downright criminal, but not naive and trusting.

As far as Ed SMart giving Ricci the car in exchange for work done on the home, so what? It was probably beneficial to both parties to do so

So what?!!! The state of Utah as well as the federal govt have specific laws to deal with that type transaction/barter with good reason.

Example: I can hire a licensed painting subcontractor to paint a house at $40 an hour. No other costs incurred and the job is subject to warranty.

I can hire a journeyman painter for $20/hr and in actual cost it winds up pretty close to $30/hr, since I must pay FICA, worker compensation. unemployment, and liability insurance.

An unlicensed competitor, such as it appears Smart is, can hire guys off the street like Ricci and pay $10/hr. Total cost = $10/hr...no taxes, insurance, etc. to worry about unless he gets caught.

There's a lot of money left on the table for these unscrupulous types. Legitimate Utah contractors run up against this all the time.

If I am wrong about Smart's business I will apologize. It is just that I have seen so many do this "real estate broker" ploy to circumvent the contracting laws.

Interesting info. The company my sister works is very honest, and have come up against unscrupulous contractors. But her boss won't compromise his principles, they've lost out on many homes because they don't cut corners. Lately however, they've had people come back and tell them that they went with a less expensive contractor, but it actually wound up costing them more because the quality wasn't there. House building is a pretty interesting business to be in...

jo6pac: If I am wrong about Smart's business I will apologize. It is just that I have seen so many do this "real estate broker" ploy to circumvent the contracting laws.

No apology from me will be necessary re my suspicions of Smart's business practices. The man is a crook.

Partial transcript of his 7/10 press conference:

I...I paid him...uh, you know...with the car...we had a contract on the car...and he was supposed to work...you know to help pay that off...which he did...and I did pay him...you know...some cash...I can't remember if I paid him check or not...I've had no(?) over the course of building my home I've had...you know...temporary work that I've picked up for the day and...you know...I've paid them cash. Sometimes...sometimes there's a problem where they don't have IDs...they can't cash checks so...you know...that's basically...