S. JAMES OTERO, District Judge.
Plaintiff, the Federal Trade Commission ("Commission" or "FTC"), has filed its Complaint for Permanent Injunction and Other Equitable Relief pursuant to Section 13(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act ("FTC Act"), 15 U.S.C. § 53(b), and the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act ("Telemarketing Act"), 15 U.S.C. §§ 6101-6108, and has moved, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b), for a preliminary injunction, asset freeze, other equitable relief.
The Court, having considered the FTC's Complaint, ex parte application for temporary restraining order, declarations, exhibits, and the memorandum filed in support of the FTC's application, and the FTC's Motion for Preliminary Injunction, and the evidence presented, now finds that:
1. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this case, and there is good cause to believe that it will have jurisdiction over all parties hereto and that venue in this district is proper.
2. There is good cause to believe that Defendants have engaged in and are likely to engage in acts or practices that violate Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(a), and the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule ("TSR"), 16 C.F.R. Part 310, and that Plaintiff is therefore likely to prevail on the merits of this action.
3. There is good cause to believe that immediate and continuing harm to consumers will result from Defendants' ongoing violations of the FTC Act and the TSR unless Defendants are restrained and enjoined by order of this Court.
4. There is good cause to believe that Relief Defendants have received funds that can be traced directly to Defendants' unlawful acts or practices and that Relief Defendants have no legitimate claim to those funds.
5. There is good cause to believe that irreparable damage to the Court's ability to grant effective final relief for consumers in the form of monetary restitution, rescission, disgorgement, or refunds will occur from the sale, transfer, destruction, or other disposition or concealment by Defendants or Relief Defendants of their assets or records, unless Defendants and Relief Defendants are preliminarily enjoined by order of this Court.
6. Good cause exists for appointing a Receiver over the Receivership Defendants and maintaining a freeze of Defendants' and Relief Defendants' assets.
7. Weighing the equities and considering FTC's likelihood of ultimate success on the merits, a preliminary injunction with an asset freeze, the appointment of a Receiver, and other equitable relief is in the public interest.
8. No security is required of any agency of the United States for issuance of a preliminary injunction. Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(c).
For the purpose of this Order, the following definitions shall apply:
A. "
B. "
C. "
D. "
E. "
F. "
G. "
H. "
I.
J. "
K. "
L. "
M. "
N.
A. Misrepresenting or assisting others in misrepresenting, expressly or by implication, that:
B. Making or assisting others in making, any representation, expressly or by implication, about the benefits, performance, or efficacy of any Debt Relief Service, unless the representation is non-misleading and, at the time such representation is made, Defendants possess and rely upon competent and reliable evidence that is sufficient in quality and quantity based on standards generally accepted in the relevant fields, when considered in light of the entire body of relevant and reliable evidence, to substantiate that the representation is true.
A. Providing, offering to provide, or arranging for others to provide any Debt Relief Service and requesting or receiving payment of any fees or consideration for any Debt Relief Service until and unless:
B. Misrepresenting directly or indirectly, expressly or by implication, that Defendants are affiliated with, or endorsed or sponsored by, the government, government loan programs, the ED, or consumers' loan servicers;
C. Misrepresenting, directly or indirectly, expressly or by implication, any material aspect of their Debt Relief Services, including, but not limited to, that:
A. Selling, renting, leasing, transferring, or otherwise disclosing, the name, address, birth date, telephone number, email address, credit card number, bank account number, Social Security number, or other financial or identifying information of any person that any Defendant obtained in connection with any activity that pertains to the subject matter of this Order; and
B. Benefitting from or using the name, address, birth date, telephone number, email address, credit card number, bank account number, Social Security number, or other financial or identifying information of any person that any Defendant obtained in connection with any activity that pertains to the subject matter of this Order.
Provided, however, that Defendants may disclose such identifying information to a law enforcement agency, as required by any law, regulation, or court order, or in any filings, pleadings or discovery in this action in the manner required by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and by any protective order in the case.
A. Transferring, liquidating, converting, encumbering, pledging, loaning, selling, concealing, dissipating, disbursing, assigning, relinquishing, spending, withdrawing, granting a lien or security interest or other interest in, or otherwise disposing of any Assets of the Defendants and Relief Defendants, wherever located, including outside the United States, that are:
B. Opening or causing to be opened any safe deposit boxes, commercial mail boxes, or storage facilities titled in the name of any Defendant or Relief Defendant or subject to access by any Defendant or Relief Defendant, except as necessary to comply with written requests from the Receiver acting pursuant to its authority under this Order;
C. Incurring charges or cash advances on any credit or bank card issued in the name, individually or jointly, of any Defendant or Relief Defendant, or any corporation, partnership, or other entity directly or indirectly owned, managed, or controlled by any Defendant or Relief Defendant, or of which any Defendant or Relief Defendant is an officer, director, member, or manager; or
D. Cashing any checks or depositing any money orders or cash received from consumers, clients, or customers of any Defendant or Relief Defendant.
The Assets affected by this Section shall include: (1) all Assets of Defendants and Relief Defendants as of the time this Order is entered; (2) Assets obtained by Defendants and Relief Defendants after this Order is entered if those Assets are derived from any activity that is the subject of the Complaint in this matter or that is prohibited by this Order. This Section does not prohibit any transfers to the Receiver or repatriation of foreign Assets specifically required by this Order.
A. Hold, preserve, and retain within its control and prohibit the withdrawal, removal, alteration, assignment, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, disbursement, dissipation, relinquishment, conversion, sale, or other disposal of any such Document or Asset, as well as all Documents or other property related to such Assets, except by further order of this Court;
B. Deny any Person, except the Receiver with respect to the Receivership Defendants, access to any safe deposit box, commercial mail box, or storage facility that is titled in the name of any Defendant or Relief Defendant, either individually or jointly, or otherwise subject to access by any Defendant or Relief Defendant;
C. Provide FTC counsel with respect to Defendants and the Relief Defendants, and the Receiver with respect to the Receivership Defendants, within three (3) business days of receiving a copy of this Order, a sworn statement setting forth:
D. Upon the request of FTC counsel or the Receiver, promptly provide FTC counsel and the Receiver with copies of all records or other Documents pertaining to such account or Asset, including originals or copies of account applications, account statements, signature cards, checks, drafts, deposit tickets, transfers to and from the accounts, including wire transfers and wire transfer instructions, all other debit and credit instruments or slips, currency transaction reports, 1099 forms, and all logs and records pertaining to safe deposit boxes, commercial mail boxes, and storage facilities.
A. Provide Plaintiff's counsel and the Receiver with a full accounting, verified under oath and accurate as of the date of this Order, of all Assets, Documents, and accounts outside of the United States which are: (1) titled in the name, individually or jointly, of any Defendant or Relief Defendant; (2) held by any person or entity for the benefit of any Defendant or Relief Defendant or for the benefit of, any corporation, partnership, asset protection trust, or other entity that is directly or indirectly owned, managed, or controlled by any Defendant or Relief Defendant; or (3) under the direct or indirect control, whether jointly or singly, of any Defendant or Relief Defendant;
B. Take all steps necessary to provide Plaintiff's counsel and the Receiver access to all Documents and records that may be held by third parties located outside of the territorial United States of America, including signing the Consent to Release of Financial Records appended to this Order as
C. Transfer to the territory of the United States and deliver to the Receiver all Documents and Assets located in foreign countries which are: (1) titled in the name, individually or jointly, of any Receivership Defendant; (2) held by any person or entity for the benefit of any Receivership Defendant, or for the benefit of, any corporation, partnership, asset protection trust, or other entity that is directly or indirectly owned, managed, or controlled by any Receivership Defendant; or (3) under the direct or indirect control, whether jointly or singly, of any Receivership Defendant; and
D. The same business day as any repatriation, (1) notify the Receiver and counsel for Plaintiff of the name and location of the financial institution or other entity that is the recipient of such Documents or Assets; and (2) serve this Order on any such financial institution or other entity.
A. Sending any communication or engaging in any other act, directly or indirectly, that results in a determination by a foreign trustee or other entity that a "duress" event has occurred under the terms of a foreign trust agreement until such time that all Defendants' and Relief Defendants Assets have been fully repatriated pursuant to this Order; or
B. Notifying any trustee, protector or other agent of any foreign trust or other related entities of either the existence of this Order, or of the fact that repatriation is required pursuant to a court order, until such time that all Defendants' and Relief Defendants' Assets have been fully repatriated pursuant to this Order.
A. Destroying, erasing, falsifying, writing over, mutilating, concealing, altering, transferring, or otherwise disposing of, in any manner, directly or indirectly, Documents that relate to: (1) the business, business practices, Assets, or business or personal finances of any Defendant or Relief Defendant; (2) the business practices or finances of entities directly or indirectly under the control of any Defendant or Relief Defendant; or (3) the business practices or finances of entities directly or indirectly under common control with any other Defendant or Relief Defendant; and
B. Failing to create and maintain Documents that, in reasonable detail, accurately, fairly, and completely reflect Defendants' and Relief Defendants' incomes, disbursements, transactions, and use of Defendants' and Relief Defendants' Assets.
A. Assume full control of Receivership Defendants by removing, as the Receiver deems necessary or advisable, any director, officer, independent contractor, employee, attorney, or agent of any Receivership Defendant from control of, management of, or participation in, the affairs of the Receivership Defendants;
B. Take exclusive custody, control, and possession of all Assets and Documents of, or in the possession, custody, or under the control of, any Receivership Defendant, wherever situated;
C. Obtain, conserve, hold, manage, and prevent the loss of all Assets of the Receivership Defendants, and perform all acts necessary or advisable to preserve the value of those Assets. The Receiver shall assume control over the income and profits therefrom and all sums of money now or hereafter due or owing to the Receivership Defendants. The Receiver shall have full power to sue for, collect, and receive, all Assets of the Receivership Defendants and of other persons or entities whose interests are now under the direction, possession, custody, or control of, the Receivership Defendants. Provided, however, that the Receiver shall not attempt to collect any amount from a consumer if the Receiver believes the consumer's debt to the Receivership Defendants has resulted from the deceptive acts or practices or other violations of law alleged in the Complaint in this matter, without prior Court approval;
D. Obtain, conserve, hold, manage, and prevent the loss of all Documents of the Receivership Defendants, and perform all acts necessary or advisable to preserve such Documents, including imaging the Receivership Defendants' servers, computers, and electronic devices, as well as imaging smart phones and mobile devices of the Individual Defendant to the extent that the Receiver believes there is data of or concerning the Receivership Defendants on these items. The Receiver shall: divert mail; preserve all Documents of the Receivership Defendants that are accessible via electronic means such as online access to financial accounts and access to electronic documents held onsite or by Electronic Data Hosts, by changing usernames, passwords or other log-in credentials; take possession of all electronic Documents of the Receivership Defendants stored onsite or remotely; take whatever steps necessary to preserve all such Documents; and obtain the assistance of the FTC's Digital Forensic Unit for the purpose of obtaining electronic documents stored onsite or remotely;
E. Choose, engage, and employ attorneys, accountants, appraisers, and other independent contractors and technical specialists, as the Receiver deems advisable or necessary in the performance of duties and responsibilities under the authority granted by this Order, including, but not limited to, the law firm in which the Receiver is a partner;
F. Make payments and disbursements from the receivership estate that are necessary or advisable for carrying out the directions of, or exercising the authority granted by, this Order, and to incur, or authorize the making of, such agreements as may be necessary and advisable in discharging his or her duties as Receiver. The Receiver shall apply to the Court for prior approval of any payment of any debt or obligation incurred by the Receivership Defendants prior to the date of entry of this Order, except payments that the Receiver deems necessary or advisable to secure Assets of the Receivership Defendants, such as rental payments;
G. Take all steps necessary to secure and take exclusive custody of each location from which the Receivership Defendants operate their businesses. Such steps may include, but are not limited to, any of the following, as the Receiver deems necessary or advisable: (1) securing the location by changing the locks and alarm codes and disconnecting any Internet access or other means of access to the computers, servers, internal networks, or other records maintained at that location; and (2) requiring any persons present at the location to leave the premises, to provide the Receiver with proof of identification, and/or to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Receiver that such persons are not removing from the premises Documents or Assets of the Receivership Defendants. Law enforcement personnel, including, but not limited to, police or sheriffs, may assist the Receiver in implementing these provisions in order to keep the peace and maintain security. If requested by the Receiver, the United States Marshal will provide appropriate and necessary assistance to the Receiver to implement this Order and is authorized to use any necessary and reasonable force to do so;
H. Take all steps necessary to prevent the modification, destruction, or erasure of any web page or website registered to and operated, in whole or in part, by any Receivership Defendant, and to provide access to all such web page or websites to Plaintiff's representatives, agents, and assistants, as well as Receivership Defendants, and their representatives;
I. Enter into and cancel contracts and purchase insurance as advisable or necessary;
J. Prevent the inequitable distribution of Assets and determine, adjust, and protect the interests of consumers who have transacted business with the Receivership Defendants;
K. Make an accounting, as soon as practicable, of the Assets and financial condition of the receivership and file the accounting with the Court and deliver copies thereof to all parties;
L. Institute, compromise, adjust, appear in, intervene in, defend, dispose of, or otherwise become party to any legal action in state, federal or foreign courts or arbitration proceedings as the Receiver deems necessary and advisable to preserve or recover the Assets of the Receivership Defendants, or to carry out the Receiver's mandate under this Order, including but not limited to, actions challenging fraudulent or voidable transfers;
M. Issue subpoenas to obtain Documents and records pertaining to the Receivership, and conduct discovery in this action on behalf of the receivership estate;
N. Open one or more bank accounts at designated depositories for funds of the Receivership Defendants. The Receiver shall deposit all funds of the Receivership Defendants in such designated accounts and shall make all payments and disbursements from the receivership estate from such accounts. The Receiver shall serve copies of monthly account statements on all parties;
O. Maintain accurate records of all receipts and expenditures incurred as Temporary Receiver;
P. Allow the Plaintiff's representatives, agents, and assistants, as well as the Defendants' and Relief Defendants' representatives and the Defendants' and Relief Defendants themselves, reasonable access to the premises of the Receivership Defendants, or any other premises where the Receivership Defendants conduct business. The purpose of this access shall be to inspect and copy any and all books, records, Documents, accounts, and other property owned by, or in the possession of, the Receivership Defendants, or their agents. The Receiver shall have the discretion to determine the time, manner, and reasonable conditions of such access;
Q. Allow the Plaintiff's representatives, agents, and assistants, as well as Defendants and the Relief Defendants and their representatives reasonable access to all Documents in the possession, custody, or control of the Receivership Defendants;
R. Cooperate with reasonable requests for information or assistance from any state or federal civil or criminal law enforcement agency;
S. Suspend business operations of the Receivership Defendants if, in the judgment of the Receiver, such operations cannot be continued legally and profitably;
T. Take all steps necessary to ensure that any of the Receivership Defendants' web pages or websites relating to Debt Relief Services cannot be accessed by the public, or are modified for consumer education and/or informational purposes, if the Receiver deems it necessary or advisable;
U. Take all steps necessary to ensure that any telephone numbers associated with the Receivership Defendants cannot be accessed by the public, or are answered solely to provide consumer education or information regarding the status of operations, if the Receiver deems it necessary or advisable; and
V. File timely reports with the Court at reasonable intervals, or as otherwise directed by the Court.
A. All Assets held by, or for the benefit of, the Receivership Defendants;
B. All Documents of or pertaining to, the Receivership Defendants;
C. All computers, electronic devices, mobile devices and machines used to conduct the business of the Receivership Defendants;
D. All Assets and Documents belonging to other persons or entities whose interests are under the direction, possession, custody, or control of the Receivership Defendants; and
E. All keys, codes, user names and passwords necessary to gain access or to secure access to any Assets or Documents of, or pertaining to, the Receivership Defendants, including access to their business premises, means of communication, accounts, computer systems (onsite and remote), Electronic Data Hosts, or other property.
In the event that any person or entity fails to deliver or transfer any Asset or Document, or otherwise fails to comply with any provision of this Section, the Receiver may file an Affidavit of Non-Compliance regarding the failure and a motion seeking compliance or a contempt citation.
A. A list of all Assets and accounts of the Receivership Defendants that are held in any name other than the name of a Receivership Defendant, or by any person or entity other than a Receivership Defendant; and
B. A list of all agents, employees, officers, attorneys, and servants of the Receivership Defendants, and those persons in active concert and participation with the Receivership Defendants, or who have been associated with or done business with the Receivership Defendants.
A. Interfering with the Receiver's efforts to manage, or take custody, control, or possession of, the Assets or Documents subject to the receivership;
B. Transacting any of the business of the Receivership Defendants;
C. Transferring, receiving, altering, selling, encumbering, pledging, assigning, liquidating, or otherwise disposing of any Assets owned, controlled, or in the possession or custody of, or in which an interest is held or claimed by, the Receivership Defendants; or
D. Refusing to cooperate with the Receiver or the Receiver's duly authorized agents in the exercise of their duties or authority under any order of this Court.
A. Filing or assisting in the filing of a petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., or of any similar insolvency proceeding on behalf of the Defendants or Relief Defendants;
B. Commencing, prosecuting, or continuing a judicial, administrative, or other action or proceeding against the Defendants or Relief Defendants, including the issuance or employment of process against the Defendants or Relief Defendants, except that such actions may be commenced if necessary to toll any applicable statute of limitations; or
C. Filing or enforcing any lien on any Asset of the Defendants or Relief Defendants, taking or attempting to take possession, custody, or control of any Asset of the Defendants or Relief Defendants, attempting to foreclose, forfeit, alter, or terminate any interest in any Asset of the Defendants or Relief Defendants, whether such acts are part of a judicial proceeding, are acts of self-help, or otherwise.
Provided, however, that this Order does not stay: (1) the commencement or continuation of a criminal action or proceeding; (2) the commencement or continuation of an action or proceeding by a governmental unit to enforce such governmental unit's police or regulatory power; or (3) the enforcement of a judgment, other than a money judgment, obtained in an action or proceeding by a governmental unit to enforce such governmental unit's police or regulatory power.
A. Plaintiff and the Receiver may take the deposition of parties and non-parties. Forty-eight (48) hours' notice shall be sufficient notice for such depositions. The limitations and conditions set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(a)(2)(B) and 31(a)(2)(B) regarding subsequent depositions of an individual shall not apply to depositions taken pursuant to this Section. Any such deposition taken pursuant to this Section shall not be counted towards the deposition limit set forth in Rules 30(a)(2)(A) and 31(a)(2)(A) and depositions may be taken by telephone or other remote electronic means;
B. Plaintiff and the Receiver may serve upon the parties requests for production of Documents or inspection that requires production or inspection within five (5) days of service; provided, however, that three (3) days of notice shall be deemed sufficient for the production of any such Documents that are maintained or stored only in electronic format.
C. Plaintiff and the Receiver may serve upon parties interrogatories that require response within five (5) days after Plaintiff serves such interrogatories.
D. Plaintiff and the Receiver may serve subpoenas upon non-parties that direct production or inspection within five (5) days of service.
E. Service of discovery upon a party to this action, taken pursuant to this Section, shall be sufficient if made by facsimile, email, or by overnight delivery.
F. Any expedited discovery taken pursuant to this Section is in addition to, and is not subject to, the limits on discovery set forth in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules of this Court. The expedited discovery permitted by the Section does not require a meeting or conference of the parties, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(d) and (f).
G. The parties are exempted from making initial disclosures under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) until further order of this Court.
Federal law provides that any person may be imprisoned for not more than five years, fined, or both, if such person:
(1) "in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or covers up by any trick, scheme, or devise a material fact; makes any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation; or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry" (18 U.S.C. § 1001);
(2) "in any . . . statement under penalty of perjury as permitted under section 1746 of title 28, United States Code, willfully subscribes as true any material matter which he does not believe to be true" (18 U.S.C. § 1621); or
(3) "in any (. . . statement under penalty of perjury as permitted under section 1746 of title 28, United States Code) in any proceeding before or ancillary to any court or grand jury of the United States knowingly makes any false material declaration or makes or uses any other information . . . knowing the same to contain any false material declaration" (18 U.S.C. § 1623).
For a felony conviction under the provisions cited above, federal law provides that the fine may be not more than the greater of (i) $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a corporation, or (ii) if the felony results in pecuniary gain to any person or pecuniary loss to any person other than the defendant, the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss. 18 U.S.C. § 3571.
1. Complete all items. Enter "None" or "N/A" ("Not Applicable") where appropriate. If you cannot fully answer a question, explain why.
2. The font size within each field will adjust automatically as you type to accommodate longer responses.
3. In completing this financial statement, "the corporation" refers not only to this corporation but also to each of its predecessors that are not named defendants in this action.
4. When an Item asks for information about assets or liabilities "held by the corporation," include
5. Attach continuation pages as needed. On the financial statement, state next to the Item number that the Item is being continued. On the continuation page(s), identify the Item number being continued.
6. Type or print legibly.
7. An officer of the corporation must sign and date the completed financial statement on the last page and initial each page in the space provided in the lower right corner.
Federal law provides that any person may be imprisoned for not more than five years, fined, or both, if such person:
For a felony conviction under the provisions cited above, federal law provides that the fine may be not more than the greater of (i) $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a corporation, or (ii) if the felony results in pecuniary gain to any person or pecuniary loss to any person other than the defendant, the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss. 18 U.S.C. § 3571.