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http://springhillgrouphome.tumblr.com/day/2012/09/30/ A Los Angeles man was sentenced to six years in prison last week for his role in a power wheelchair scam, topping what prosecutors say has been a series of Medicare fraud cases. David James Garrison, 50, a former physician assistant, was found guilty by a federal jury for his role in submitting $18.9 million in fraudulent Medicare claims for power wheelchairs and other equipment. The wheelchair case is the third time Garrison has been accused of Medicare fraud. In 2009, Garrison pleaded no contest to tax evasion for his role in what prosecutors described as a fraudulent medical clinic. He pleaded not guilty in October to charges that he forged prescriptions as part of an OxyContin ring that sold 1 million pills on the streets. That case is ongoing. Garrison's attorney did not return a call for comment about the cases. Garrison's physician assistant license lapsed in 2009, said Russ Heimerich, a spokesman for the Department of Consumer Affairs, which oversees many state licensing boards. He said the board examined the tax evasion case and did not see it as grounds for discipline. According to court documents, Garrison's cases involved the use of "cappers" or "marketers" who recruited Medicare beneficiaries to submit to unneeded care or hand over their personal information. That information was used to bill the program for medications, services or supplies that the patients didn't need. In the wheelchair case, prosecuted by the Los Angeles U.S. attorney's office, one witness testified that marketers had to recruit beneficiaries as far as 300 miles from Los Angeles because so many local people had already been used in other fraud schemes. In the first health fraud case linked to Garrison, he was described as an "at large" suspect in October 2007 when then-Attorney General Jerry Brown announced arrests in a $1.5 million health fraud scam. "The suspects create a fake healthcare clinic to line their own

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/18002117/ohio-ag-arrest-in-navy-ve CLEVELAND (AP) - A fugitive on the run for more than two years has been arrested on accusations that he ran a scam that collected $100 million in donations from people in dozens of states who believed they were helping U.S. Navy veterans, Ohio's attorney general and the U.S.

By THOMAS J. SHEERAN Associated Press CLEVELAND (AP) - A fugitive on the run for more than two years has been arrested on accusations that he ran a scam that collected $100 million in donations from people in dozens of states who believed they were helping U.S.

Source : http://newscenter.springhillgrouphome.com/ Springhill Group Home: Top 10 Fraud Schemes http://newscenter.springhillgrouphome.com/2012/03/springhill-group-home-top-10-fraud-schemes/ For the twelfth successive year, identity theft topped the consumer complaint database of the Federal Trade Commission with the largest number of complaints, perhaps owing to the rampant use (and misuse) of online services such as social networking and e-commerce websites. From the 1.8 million complaints the FTC got in 2011, almost 300,000 are about identity theft. The information of FTC has included complaints filed to them or from other states and federal consumer protection groups. Most of the complaints of identity theft are coming from consumers saying that their personal details are

Source : http://www.valueinvestingnews.com/scam-review-springhill-suites-houston-medical-center Springhill Suites Houston Medical Center/Reliant Park: Traveler Reviews Ranked #91 of 425 hotels in Houston 50 Reviews 50 reviews from our community Trip type Family reviews (16) Couples reviews (6) Business reviews (17) Solo travel reviews (5) Friends reviews (3) "A Scam!" - While this hotel is clean, I would NOT recommend staying here, especially if you need to rely on taxis for transportation. First, we asked for three days in a row for the drain in the bath/shower to be unclogged, which was never done. Standing in inches of water while taking a shower is not my idea of fun. Much worse however, was the scam the hotel seems to be running regarding taxis and car service. The last night of my stay, I requested an early morning cab to go to the airport. I was told it would be taken care of. Shortly after, the front desk called my room, asking if I wouldn't prefer a town car. I was told this was suggested because the cab drivers had been adding extra distance to rides to drive up the cost of the fare. Since I had taken a cab from the airport to the hotel, I had a sense of the cost, and felt confident that I could be firm with the cab driver, especially since the cost of the town car was quoted at $10 more. The next morning, I showed up in the lobby at 4:45 am for my cab. The person at the desk informed me that no cab had been called, that 'cabs don't work that way' here, and strongly suggested (again) that a town car be called, since that was the only way to be sure of a quick arrival. The price this person quoted me was now $5 more than a cab ride, and feeling desperate, I agreed. Once in the town car, I asked the driver if there was any arrangement with the hotel to pass along part of the fare to the hotel. He acknowledged that there was. I believe this is re

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News America's Choice Home Loans announced the opening of Branch 1013, located in Newberg, Oregon. Managed by Jerry Holman, a long time veteran of the mortgage industry, the branch opened on October 20. "Please give Jerry a warm welcome and let him know he is a part of our family," says Jonathan Fowler, Director of National Production for the company. "Jerry, thank you very much for choosing America's Choice Home Loans. We appreciate you and your office and are here to make your lending career bigger and brighter than ever. You will find out why we are America's Choice Home Loans - Thank you very much and welcome."

America's Choice Home Loans announced the opening of Branch 1013, located in Newberg, Oregon. Managed by Jerry Holman, a long time veteran of the mortgage industry, the branch opened on October 20. "Please give Jerry a warm welcome and let him know he is a part of our family," says Jonathan Fowler, Director of National Production for the company. "Jerry, thank you very much for choosing America's Choice Home Loans. We appreciate you and your office and are here to make your lending career bigger and brighter than ever. You will find out why we are America's Choice Home Loans - Thank you very much and welcome." Being an expert in home loan and mortgage, Jerry will continue to concentrate on helping customers with their residential home loan needs. America's Choice Home Loan is continuously searching for experienced mortgage loan originators to join the company. Contrary to many in the industry who have been discouraged, scaled back or closed down completely, Mr. Fowler is unfazed. "America's Choice has the ability to expand, including the capacity for rapid growth. We have been positioning ourselves for this, and we're ready," adds Mr. Fowler. America's Choice Home Loans LP is located at 8584 Katy Freeway, Suite 200, Houston TX 77024 and can be reached at 713-463-6779. Visit their website www.achlonline.com and their Facebook fan page. About America's Choice Home Loans LP America's Choice Home Loans LP has been a retail mortgage lender since 1998. The company is a HUD, VA and USDA approved mortgagee headquartered in Houston, TX.

America's Choice Home Loans announced the opening of Branch 1013, located in Newberg, Oregon. Managed by Jerry Holman, a long time veteran of the mortgage industry, the branch opened on October 20. "Please give Jerry a warm welcome and let him know he is a part of our family," says Jonathan Fowler, Director of National Production for the company. "Jerry, thank you very much for choosing America's Choice Home Loans. We appreciate you and your office and are here to make your lending career bigger and brighter than ever. You will find out why we are America's Choice Home Loans - Thank you very much and welcome." Being an expert in home loan and mortgage, Jerry will continue to concentrate on helping customers with their residential home loan needs. America's Choice Home Loan is continuously searching for experienced mortgage loan originators to join the company. Contrary to many in the industry who have been discouraged, scaled back or closed down completely, Mr. Fowler is unfazed. "America's Choice has the ability to expand, including the capacity for rapid growth. We have been positioning ourselves for this, and we're ready," adds Mr. Fowler. America's Choice Home Loans LP is located at 8584 Katy Freeway, Suite 200, Houston TX 77024 and can be reached at 713-463-6779. Visit their website www.achlonline.com and their Facebook fan page. About America's Choice Home Loans LP America's Choice Home Loans LP has been a retail mortgage lender since 1998. The company is a HUD, VA and USDA approved mortgagee headquartered in Houston, TX.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development made mention to thelawmakers it couldn't pronounce if the Federal Housing Administration would cover new mortgages in communities together with Richmond, California that propose to seize home loans through eminent domain."Pending legal developments and possible further execution of the plans in question, HUD does not know whether any new mortgages which might be created would qualify for insurance by the Federal Housing Administration," Acting Assistant Secretary Elliot Mincberg wrote in an Aug. 12 letter responding to questions from members of Congress. The week following the FHFA HUD's comments came, which oversees Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac, said it would considering directing the companies to stop doing business in communities that seize mortgages through eminent domain to avert foreclosure by writing down the principal balances. The Federal Housing Finance Agency may also initiate legal challenges to such actions, Alfred M. Pollard, the agency's general counsel, said in a memorandum. "There is a rational basis to conclude that the use of eminent domain by localities to restructure loans for borrowers that are 'underwater' on their mortgages presents a clear threat to the safe and sound operations of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks as provided in federal law," Pollard wrote. Blight Prevention In the preceding month, Richmond announced it is moving ahead with a plan to seize mortgages. The public benefit of the seizures is to fend off foreclosures that cause blight and create other costs for the community, according to the plan's supporters. At the minimum of a dozen cities still dealing with the fallout of most horrible slump in home prices from the time when the Great Depression are studying the eminent domain idea. Others include El Monte, California, North Las Vegas, Nevada, and Irvington, New Jersey. Communities such as San Bernardino County, Californ

The Bank of England plans to cut its support for mortgage lending in the U.K. and nudge banks towards lending more to small businesses, it said Thursday, November 28. The move is an answer to increasing concern that a speedy pickup in housing market activity in Britain could ultimately turn unpleasant, affecting banks and borrowers, and also as longstanding worries that small firms are being starved of credit, hindering economic recovery. What's more, it is a sample of the growing willingness of central banks across the globe to organize customized policies to maneuver their economies, rather than relying exclusively on official interest. The BOE said in its twice-yearly financial stability report that although there is little evidence that quickening activity in Britain's housing market poses an immediate threat to financial stability, "risks may grow if stronger activity is accompanied by further substantial and rapid increases in house prices and a further buildup in household indebtedness." The central bank said property has played "a central role" in many previous economic and financial crises. In the U.K., real estate accounts for 70% of non-financial assets. House prices in the U.K. have climbed speedily in past months, formed worries over the materialization of a new bubble in prices. A government mortgage-support program for would-be homebuyers called Help-to-Buy had pave the way for a boost in mortgage lending, together with an increase in the number of riskier loans on offer that entail merely a small down payment. The BOE said that in response to the pickup in housing-market activity and an ongoing dearth in small-business lending it has decided to overhaul its flagship Funding-for-Lending Scheme, or FLS, which offers banks cheap cash provided they use it to dish out loans to households and businesses. Banks drawing on the FLS will from January no longer benefit from reduced capital requirements on new mortgage lo

Protect Yourself from Predatory Lenders Buying or refinancing your home may be one of the most important and complex financial decisions you'll ever make. Many lenders, appraisers, and real estate professionals stand ready to help you get a nice home and a great loan. However, you need to understand the home buying process to be a smart consumer. Every year, misinformed homebuyers, often first-time purchasers or seniors, become victims of predatory lending or loan fraud. Don't let this happen to you! 11 Tips on Being a Smart Consumer - Before you buy a home, attend a homeownership education course offered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved, non-profit counseling agencies. - Interview several real estate professionals (agents), and ask for and check references before you select one to help you buy or sell a home. - Get information about the prices of other homes in the neighborhood. Don't be fooled into paying too much. - Hire a properly qualified and licensed home inspector to carefully inspect the property before you are obligated to buy. Determine whether you or the seller is going to be responsible for paying for the repairs. If you have to pay for the repairs, determine whether or not you can afford to make them. - Shop for a lender and compare costs. Be suspicious if anyone tries to steer you to just one lender. - Do NOT let anyone persuade you to make a false statement on your loan application, such as overstating your income, the source of your down payment, failing to disclose the nature and amount of your debts, or even how long you have been employed. When you apply for a mortgage loan, every piece of information that you submit must be acc