Gaithersburg Man Cited for Illegal Tree Care Business

ROCKVILLE, MD — A Montgomery County man was cited last month by Maryland Natural Resources Police officers for reportedly operating a tree-care business without a state license.

Officers arrived at a home on the 2200 block of Rockland Avenue in Rockville on Dec. 19 and found Brian Beck Lightfoot, 53, of Gaithersburg, performing work on a tree. When asked for his Maryland licensed tree expert number, Lightfoot gave several company names and tree expert numbers.

Officers say that he was using identifying numbers of companies where he had previously worked without their permission.

Officers charged Lightfoot with operating a tree expert business without license.

The next day, officers received a complaint at the same address that Lightfoot was still performing tree work.

Lightfoot told an officer that he was working under a different licensed company, but could not provide licensed tree expert number documentation. He received a second citation and was ordered to cease and desist performing tree work at that address.

Lightfoot is schedule to appear in Montgomery District Court on March 8 on both charges. If convicted, he could be fined as much as $1,000.