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- Pending Government Action:Government Action: BBB reports on known government actions involving business’ marketplace conduct:CFPB vs Whitestone Legal Group
On January 10, 2024, the Bureau and seven state attorneys general—New York, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Wisconsin—filed a complaint and sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against StratFS, LLC f/k/a Strategic Financial Solutions, LLC, as well as its holding company Strategic Family, Inc.; various of its subsidiaries: Strategic Client Support, LLC; Strategic CS, LLC; Strategic FS Buffalo, LLC; Strategic NYC, LLC; T Fin, LLC; BCF Capital, LLC; Strategic Consulting, LLC; Versara Lending, LLC; Anchor Client Services, LLC; Bedrock Client Services, LLC; Boulder Client Services, LLC; Canyon Client Services, LLC; Carolina Legal Services, LLC; Great Lakes Client Services, LLC; Guidestone Client Services, LLC; Harbor Client Services, LLC; Heartland Client Services, LLC; Monarch Client Services, LLC; Newport Client Services, LLC; Northstar Client Services, LLC; Option 1 Client Services, LLC; Pioneer Client Servicing, LLC ; Rockwell Client Services, LLC; Royal Client Services, LLC; Stonepoint Client Services, LLC; Summit Client Services, LLC; and Whitestone Client Services, LLC (collectively, SFS); and as individuals: SFS Chief Executive Officer Ryan Sasson and Jason Blust. The complaint also named the following relief defendants: Daniel Blumkin; Albert Ian Behar; Strategic ESOP; Strategic ESOT, Twist Financial, LLC; Duke Enterprises, LLC; Blaise Investments, LLC; The Blust Family Irrevocable Trust through Donald J. Holmgren, Trustee; Jaclyn Blust; Lit Def Strategies, LLC; and Relialit, LLC. SFS is a debt-relief company with offices in Buffalo and Manhattan, New York. The Bureau alleges that since at least January 2016, SFS and the individual defendants have operated a debt-relief scheme that collects exorbitant, illegal advance fees from vulnerable consumers suffering financial difficulties through a web of interrelated companies they have created, including law firms, that serve as a facade for SFS’s debt-relief operation. The Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) prohibits charging and collecting fees before renegotiating the terms of at least one debt and before a payment is made under the renegotiated terms, as well as charging fee amounts that are not tied to the percentage of the enrolled debt settled or reduced or the amount saved. The Bureau alleges that the defendants violated, and substantially assisted violating, these prohibitions. Specifically, under SFS’s direction, the web of companies begin debiting fees for the debt-relief services from consumers’ escrow accounts long before any of the consumers’ debts have been settled, and the fee amounts the companies collect are pre-determined and do not depend on any results the companies might obtain. As alleged in the complaint, since January 2016, defendants have collected at least $100,000,000 from consumers before any of the consumers’ debts were settled, and in some instances when no such settlements ever took place. The complaint seeks permanent and preliminary injunctive relief, redress for consumers, and a civil money penalty. On January 11, 2024, the court granted the Bureau’s request for a temporary restraining order.
Bank records also show that Law Offices of Amber Florio, LLC d/b/a The Commonwealth Law Group, PLLC received money from the following Façade Firms: ? Florio & Associates, PLLC, d/b/a Bedrock Legal Group, f/k/a Raggio & Associates, PLLC; ? Boulder Legal Group, LLC; ? Greene Legal Services, LLC d/b/a Newport Legal Group; ? Harbor Legal Group, LLC; ? Hodyno & Associates, PLLC d/b/a Rockwell Legal Group; ? JMS Industries, LLC d/b/a Canyon Legal Group; ? Royal Legal Group, LLC; ? The Sands Law Group d/b/a Whitestone Legal Group; and ? Wyolaw d/b/a Summit Law Firm.
Business Details
- Local BBB:
- BBB of Los Angeles & Silicon Valley
- BBB File Opened:
- 7/11/2018
- Business Started:
- 5/1/2016
- Type of Entity:
- Sole Proprietorship
- Alternate Names:
- The Sands Law Group, LLP
- Business Management:
- Mr. Thomas Sands, Principal Owner
Additional Contact Information
- Principal Contacts
- Mr. Thomas Sands, Principal Owner
- Customer Contacts
- Mr. Thomas Sands, Principal Owner
- Fax numbers
- Primary Fax: (866) 489-8045
Licensing information
This business is in an industry that may require professional licensing, bonding or registration. BBB encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.
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