PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 2,653 checks totaling more than $467,000 to consumers who lost money in a mortgage-relief scheme.
The FTC won a $2.6 million court action against Jackson, Crowder Associates and Crowder Law Group in which three defendants charged consumers large up-front fees, failed to deliver the mortgage modifications that they promised, exaggerated the role that an attorney would play and pretended to be affiliated with a government agency.
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Federal prosecutors also approved settlements with five other defendants in the case. Nine defendants behind the Crowder Law Group were charged with violating the Federal Trade Commission Act and the telemarketing sales rule.
Richard Bishop, Brent McDaniel and Tyna Caldwell were banned by the court for 10 years from telemarketing financial products or services, selling mortgage modification, foreclosure rescue and debt-relief products or services, and from collecting or attempting to collect from consumers who agreed to purchase a mortgage-assistance product or service.
The judgment against Bishop, McDaniel, and Caldwell, along with the judgement against the invalid company, Washington Data Resources, included permanent injunctions and found them accountable of $42.6 million for the harm caused to consumers.
Check amounts will vary based upon each consumer's loss. Those who receive the checks from the FTC are advised to deposit or cash them within 60 days of the mailing date.
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