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CONSUMER SCAM (Barry Calvagna) aka/ United Abstract Group, Inc. aka/ American Consolidebt, Inc. aka USR Group, Inc. Paystar International aka Conway and Phillips The associates group See Also LINK COMPLAINTS HERE 2387 New York Ave., #8 Huntington Station, NY 11746 Phone: (800) 344-1588 (631) 421-1397 Fax: (631) 421-1397 918 Jericho Turnpike Huntington Station, NY 11746 Phone: 631-421-1533 888-380-3516 866-509-3202 Fax: 631-421-1890 Fax: 631-755-3069 Florida: United Abstract Group, Inc.PO BOX 6812 Spring Hill, FL 34611 (352) 684-8693 (352) 666-0466 fax (866) 684-8693 USR Group, Inc. 33 Walt Whitman Rd, Ste 209 Huntington Station, NY 11746-4281 Web Address: www.unitedabstractgroup.com Quick Analysis CONSUMER Comments Below We thought this scam died back in the nineties, but it is alive and well, operating from Huntington Station, from New York. Debt buyers United Abstract Group, Inc., are bottom feeders who use their entity of C. Barry & Associates, LLC, who operate out of the same address to lie, intimidate and totally misrepresent their illegal debt collection practices. Owners Barry Calvagna and Anthony Picone are about to feel the wrath of the legal system for their blatant disregard for the law and CONSUMER rights. Not to mention the fact that we could NOT locate one state where they are licensed or bonded in. Calls to their office result

News Center - Springhill Group Home Loans The deteriorating situation in Europe has increased the chances of a December interest rate cut. Australian banks are coming under increasing pressure from the ensuing European debt crisis, and have become nervous about lending to each other because of their exposure to risky European debt. Consequently, there are concerns about the risks if the Reserve Bank does not cut interest rates, with the next opportunity not until February. The Reserve Bank Governor, Glenn Stevens, ramped up the pressure on European leaders to find a swift solution to the crisis, saying that "the damage to us and everyone else will be unacceptable". It is not immediately clear, though, whether banks will be so eager to pass on the full benefits of any such cuts to consumers. The recent interest rate cut saw every major bank reduce theirhome loan rates by the full 0.25% with the exception of NAB, who f

The deteriorating situation in Europe has increased the chances of a December interest rate cut.Australian banks are coming under increasing pressure from the ensuing European debt crisis, and have become nervous about lending to each other because of their exposure to risky European debt. Consequently, there are concerns about the risks if the Reserve Bank does not cut interest rates, with the next opportunity not until February. The Reserve Bank Governor, Glenn Stevens, ramped up the pressure on European leaders to find a swift solution to the crisis, saying that "the damage to us and everyone else will be unacceptable". It is not immediately clear, though, whether banks will be so eager to pass on the full benefits of any such cuts to consumers. The recent interest rate cut saw every major bank reduce their home loan rates by the full 0.25% with the exception of NAB, who faced strong criticism for their decision to offer less. However, Australian banks are facing higher costs of funding due to the rising cost of lending across global money markets. It is suspected that these costs will be passed onto consumers by not passing on the full benefit of central rate cuts. Therefore, it is predicted that the Reserve Bank's committee will have to cut interest rates by a bigger margin if it hopes to see any monetary benefit reach consumers. One advantage for the consumer is the legislation meaning that home loans can now be transferred without exit fee, ensuring a greater level of competition between retail banks. It may be the right time to consider Which4U's current savings account rates, in case these are set to fall in the near future. Ashley King Monday, 28 November 2011 13:19View News Archive

"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 used in government documents without their knowledge, with scammers aiming to collect benefits. Last year, government-related identity theft was 27% of the total complaints in that category, increasing by 11% since 2009. Accounting for the 14% of identity theft complaints is credit card fraud, with the rest consisting of complaints of bank, utilities and phone fraud.   More than half of all the complaints last year were related to fraud and taxpayers reportedly paid a total of over USD 1.5 billion in fraudulent schemes, with the average amount paid being USD 537. Moreover, 43% of the victims acknowledged that scammers reached them through email messages.   The top three states that have the most per capita rate of fraud reported are Colorado, Delaware and Maryland as first, second and third, respectively.   Generally, FTC discovered that people are either more willing to file complaints or they simply have more complaints now. The total amount of complaints they have received has increased by over 20% - from 1.5 million to 1.8 million in 2011 - that includes both identity theft and fraud complaints.   The following is the complete list of FTC's top 10 consumer complaints for the year 2011:   1. Identity theft 2. Debt collection 3. Lotteries, sweepstakes, prizes 4. Catalog sales, shop-at-home, 5. Lenders and Banks 6. Internet services 7. Auto-re

Source : http://newscenter.springhillgrouphome.com/ http://springhillgrouphome.multiply.com/journal/item/59/Springhill_Group_Home_Top_10_Fraud_Schemes 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 used in government documents without their knowledge, with scammers aiming to collect benefits. Last year, government-related identity theft was 27% of the total complaints in that category, increasing by 11% since 2009. Accounting for the 14% of identity theft complaints is credit card fraud, with the rest consisting of complaints of bank, utilities and phone fraud. More than half of all the complaints last year were related to fraud and taxpayers reportedly paid a total of over USD 1.5 billion in fraudulent schemes, with the average amount paid being USD 537. Moreover, 43% of the victims acknowledged that scammers reached them through email messages. The top three states that have the most per capita rate of fraud reported are Colorado, Delaware and Maryland as first, second and third, respectively. Generally, FTC discovered that people are either more willing to file complaints or they simply have more complaints now. The total amount of complaints they have received has increased by over 20% -- from 1.5 million to 1.8 million in 2011 -- that includes both identity theft and fraud compl

   Springhill Group Home Loans and Deposits The deteriorating situation in Europe has increased the chances of a December interest rate cut. Australian banks are coming under increasing pressure from the ensuing European debt crisis, and have become nervous about lending to each other because of their exposure to risky European debt. Consequently, there are concerns about the risks if the Reserve Bank does not cut interest rates, with the next opportunity not until February. The Reserve Bank Governor, Glenn Stevens, ramped up the pressure on European leaders to find a swift solution to the crisis, saying that "the damage to us and everyone else will be unacceptable". It is not immediately clear, though, whether banks will be so eager to pass on the full benefits of any such cuts to consumers. The recent interest rate cut saw every major bank reduce theirhome loan rates by the full 0.25% with the exception of NAB, who faced strong criticism for their decision to offer less. However, Australian banks are facing higher costs of funding due to the rising cost of lending across global money markets. It is suspected that these costs will be passed onto consumers by not passing on the full benefit of central rate cuts. Therefore, it is predicted that the Reserve Bank's committee will have to cut interest rates by a bigger margin if it hopes to see any monetary benefit reach consumers. One advantage for the consumer is the legislation meaning that home loans can now be transferred without exit fee, ensuring a greater level of competition between retail banks. It may be the right time to consider Which4U's current savings account rates, in case these are set to fall in the near future. Ashley King Monday, 28 November 2011 13:19

Posted by Springhill Group Home Loans on 12/9/2011 9:55 PM The deteriorating situation in Europe has increased the chances of a December interest rate cut. Australian banks are coming under increasing pressure from the ensuing European debt crisis, and have become nervous about lending to each other because of their exposure to risky European debt. Consequently, there are concerns about the risks if the Reserve Bank does not cut interest rates, with the next opportunity not until February. The Reserve Bank Governor, Glenn Stevens, ramped up the pressure on European leaders to find a swift solution to the crisis, saying that "the damage to us and everyone else will be unacceptable". It is not immediately clear, though, whether banks will be so eager to pass on the full benefits of any such cuts to consumers. The recent interest rate cut saw every major bank reduce theirhome loan rates by the full 0.25% with the exception of NAB, who faced strong criticism for their decision to offer less. However, Australian banks are facing higher costs of funding due to the rising cost of lending across global money markets. It is suspected that these costs will be passed onto consumers by not passing on the full benefit of central rate cuts. Therefore, it is predicted that the Reserve Bank's committee will have to cut interest rates by a bigger margin if it hopes to see any monetary benefit reach consumers. One advantage for the consumer is the legislation meaning that home loans can now be transferred without exit fee, ensuring a greater level of competition between retail banks. It may be the right time to consider Which4U's current savings account rates, in case these are set to fall in the near future. Ashley King Monday, 28 November 2011 13:19 View News Archive

Recent headlines about the troubled subprime lending industry are making Americans more aware of the consequences of risky lending practices. But unscrupulous lenders and scam artists continue to prey on unsuspecting loan shoppers and homeowners. Unfortunately, loan-related scams aren't restricted to tricking consumers into loans with outrageously high interest rates. Today's sophisticated scammers are using loans as a vehicle to do everything from stealing sensitive personal information to virtually stealing a credit-challenged homeowner's own home. The mortgage experts at Loan.com have identified five top scams that all consumers - mortgage shoppers and homeowners alike - should be on the look-out for. 1. Unsolicited phone calls Americans across the country have reported receiving phone calls from telemarketers posing as representatives from well-known organizations such as Fannie Mae offering to refinance loans at low rates. These "representatives" often ask for personal information, claiming they need it to qualify a victim for a loan. This information is then used to steal a victim's identity. Loan.com's Advice: Be wary of any phone call offering remarkably low interest rates on loans, especially if you have registered your phone number with the Do Not Call Registry. Most major nationwide lenders do not solicit business over the phone. Never give out personal information over the phone unless you are absolutely sure who you are speaking with. 2. "Helpful" contractors Many homeowners have reported contractors - often roofing or remodel professionals - approaching them with an offer to perform upgrades on their home at a reasonable price. These contractors offer financing through low-interest loans. It's not until after signing numerous forms that too many homeowners realize they have signed off on a high-interest home equity loan, and that the contractor has been hired by unscrupulous lenders to sell loans, not impro

Statewide California Indian Legal Services Assistance: Foreclosure to all Native Americans living in California and other Residents of select Counties Location: Escondido, Bishop, Eureka, and Sacramento Website: http://www.calindian.org/ Phone: Escondido: (760) 746-8941 or (800) 743-8941 Bishop: (760) 873-3581 or (800) 736-3582 Eureka: (707) 443-8397 or (800) 347-2402 Sacramento: (916) 978-0960 or (800) 829-0284 Services: The various offices provides free and low-cost legal services to Native Americans and Native American tribes and residents of the Counties of Alpine, Inyo, Kern, Mono, Tuolumne, Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity , Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Kings, Lake, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, Yuba. California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) Assistance: Foreclosure and Loan Modification Scams for California Residents in Rural Areas in English and Spanish Location: Coachella, Delano, El Centro, Fresno, Gilroy, Lamont, Madera, Marysville, Modesto, Monterey, Oceanside, Oxnard, Paso Robles, Salinas, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, Santa Rosa, Stockton, Watsonville Website: http://www.crla.org/ Phone: To find the contact information for the office closest to you, please visithttp://www.crla.org/index.php?page=office-locations-amp-staff Services: CRLA provides free legal services to low-income residents in various rural counties. The organization assists with foreclosure and loan modification scam issues. In particular, CRLA operates free foreclosure intervention workshops out of the Mary

Recent headlines about the troubled subprime lending industry are making Americans more aware of the consequences of risky lending practices. But unscrupulous lenders and scam artists continue to prey on unsuspecting loan shoppers and homeowners. Unfortunately, loan-related scams aren't restricted to tricking consumers into loans with outrageously high interest rates. Today's sophisticated scammers are using loans as a vehicle to do everything from stealing sensitive personal information to virtually stealing a credit-challenged homeowner's own home. The mortgage experts at Loan.com have identified five top scams that all consumers - mortgage shoppers and homeowners alike - should be on the look-out for. 1. Unsolicited phone calls Americans across the country have reported receiving phone calls from telemarketers posing as representatives from well-known organizations such as Fannie Mae offering to refinance loans at low rates. These "representatives" often ask for personal information, claiming they need it to qualify a victim for a loan. This information is then used to steal a victim's identity. Loan.com's Advice: Be wary of any phone call offering remarkably low interest rates on loans, especially if you have registered your phone number with the Do Not Call Registry. Most major nationwide lenders do not solicit business over the phone. Never give out personal information over the phone unless you are absolutely sure who you are speaking with. 2. "Helpful" contractors Many homeowners have reported contractors - often roofing or remodel professionals - approaching them with an offer to perform upgrades on their home at a reasonable price. These contractors offer financing through low-interest loans. It's not until after signing numerous forms that too many homeowners realize they have signed off on a high-interest home equity loan, and that the contractor has been hired by unscrupulous lenders to sell loans, not improve

Statewide California Indian Legal Services Assistance: Foreclosure to all Native Americans living in California and other Residents of select Counties Location: Escondido, Bishop, Eureka, and Sacramento Website: http://www.calindian.org/ Phone: Escondido: (760) 746-8941 or (800) 743-8941 Bishop: (760) 873-3581 or (800) 736-3582 Eureka: (707) 443-8397 or (800) 347-2402 Sacramento: (916) 978-0960 or (800) 829-0284 Services: The various offices provides free and low-cost legal services to Native Americans and Native American tribes and residents of the Counties of Alpine, Inyo, Kern, Mono, Tuolumne, Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity , Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Kings, Lake, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Yolo, Yuba. California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) Assistance: Foreclosure and Loan Modification Scams for California Residents in Rural Areas in English and Spanish Location: Coachella, Delano, El Centro, Fresno, Gilroy, Lamont, Madera, Marysville, Modesto, Monterey, Oceanside, Oxnard, Paso Robles, Salinas, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, Santa Rosa, Stockton, Watsonville Website: http://www.crla.org/ Phone: To find the contact information for the office closest to you, please visithttp://www.crla.org/index.php?page=office-locations-amp-staff Services: CRLA provides free legal services to low-income residents in various rural counties. The organization assists with foreclosure and loan modification scam issues. In particular, CRLA operates free foreclosure intervention workshops out of t

California's attorney general announced more than $4 million in penalties have been levied against defendants in a national loan modification scam. Half of the money will go to consumers who were duped. Over 1,000 customers were caught in the ploy and paid a total of more than $2 million in modification services to Orange County-based Statewide Financial Group Inc., according to a release Tuesday from the office of Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris. "These defendants took advantage of vulnerable people in extremely difficult circumstances, including many who faced imminent loss of their homes," Harris said. "The significant financial penalties imposed by the court let scammers know that severe consequences will flow to those who defraud California consumers." The attorney general's office shut down the business in 2009, which had been in operation since January 2008. The business' owners -- Zulmai Nazarzai, Hakimullah Sarpas and Fasela Sheren (who went by the name Sharon Fasela) -- were all found liable in Orange County Superior Court for violating California's Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law. You can also visit us @ http://newscenter.springhillgrouphome.com/

California's attorney general announced more than $4 million in penalties have been levied against defendants in a national loan modification scam. Half of the money will go to consumers who were duped. Over 1,000 customers were caught in the ploy and paid a total of more than $2 million in modification services to Orange County-based Statewide Financial Group Inc., according to a release Tuesday from the office of Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris. "These defendants took advantage of vulnerable people in extremely difficult circumstances, including many who faced imminent loss of their homes," Harris said. "The significant financial penalties imposed by the court let scammers know that severe consequences will flow to those who defraud California consumers." The attorney general's office shut down the business in 2009, which had been in operation since January 2008. The business' owners -- Zulmai Nazarzai, Hakimullah Sarpas and Fasela Sheren (who went by the name Sharon Fasela) -- were all found liable in Orange County Superior Court for violating California's Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law. You can also visit us @ http://newscenter.springhillgrouphome.com/

The shorter forms, set to be adopted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, will demonstrate buyers more evidently the terms and cost of a home loan. The federal government's Consumer financial watchdog will necessitate lenders to issue shorter, easier-to-understand mortgage disclosure forms to home buyers that more noticeably show the costs and terms of the loans. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau plans to issue the rule Wednesday, November 20, subsequent through on what was an initiative launched in 2011 as the then-fledgling agency's first major action. The early Know Before You Owe forms were welcomed by Consumer and industry groups as a development more than the more intricate disclosures essential under federal law for more than 30 years. The bureau said the new forms would make it easier for home buyers to compare loan offers. "Taking out a mortgage is one of the biggest financial decisions a Consumer will ever make," said Richard Cordray, the bureau's director. "Our new Know Before You Owe mortgage forms improve Consumerunderstanding, aid comparison shopping and help prevent closing … surprises for Consumers." Lenders will be mandated to use the new forms, available in English and Spanish, starting Aug. 1, 2015. The forms will be given to potential home buyers when they apply for a mortgage and when they close on the loan. They will make available the detailed information like the estimated monthly principal and interest payments, closing costs and any prepayment penalties or balloon payments. The latest loan estimate form and the closing disclosure form use large and bold type for important information like the interest rate and feature highlighted headings and terms to make them easier to read.

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

The deteriorating situation in Europe has increased the chances of a December interest rate cut. Australian banks are coming under increasing pressure from the ensuing European debt crisis, and have become nervous about lending to each other because of their exposure to risky European debt. Consequently, there are concerns about the risks if the Reserve Bank does not cut interest rates, with the next opportunity not until February. The Reserve Bank Governor, Glenn Stevens, ramped up the pressure on European leaders to find a swift solution to the crisis, saying that "the damage to us and everyone else will be unacceptable". It is not immediately clear, though, whether banks will be so eager to pass on the full benefits of any such cuts to consumers. The recent interest rate cut saw every major bank reduce their home loan rates by the full 0.25% with the exception of NAB, who faced strong criticism for their decision to offer less. However, Australian banks are facing higher costs of funding due to the rising cost of lending across global money markets. It is suspected that these costs will be passed onto consumers by not passing on the full benefit of central rate cuts. Therefore, it is predicted that the Reserve Bank's committee will have to cut interest rates by a bigger margin if it hopes to see any monetary benefit reach consumers. One advantage for the consumer is the legislation meaning that home loans can now be transferred without exit fee, ensuring a greater level of competition between retail banks.

The deteriorating situation in Europe has increased the chances of a December interest rate cut. Australian banks are coming under increasing pressure from the ensuing European debt crisis, and have become nervous about lending to each other because of their exposure to risky European debt. Consequently, there are concerns about the risks if the Reserve Bank does not cut interest rates, with the next opportunity not until February. The Reserve Bank Governor, Glenn Stevens, ramped up the pressure on European leaders to find a swift solution to the crisis, saying that "the damage to us and everyone else will be unacceptable". It is not immediately clear, though, whether banks will be so eager to pass on the full benefits of any such cuts to consumers. The recent interest rate cut saw every major bank reduce their home loan rates by the full 0.25% with the exception of NAB, who faced strong criticism for their decision to offer less. However, Australian banks are facing higher costs of funding due to the rising cost of lending across global money markets. It is suspected that these costs will be passed onto consumers by not passing on the full benefit of central rate cuts. Therefore, it is predicted that the Reserve Bank's committee will have to cut interest rates by a bigger margin if it hopes to see any monetary benefit reach consumers. One advantage for the consumer is the legislation meaning that home loans can now be transferred without exit fee, ensuring a greater level of competition between retail banks.

Springhill Group Home News Center - Springhill Group Home Loans : Rates for home loans and savings could swing again The deteriorating situation in Europe has increased the chances of a December interest rate cut. Australian banks are coming under increasing pressure from the ensuing European debt crisis, and have become nervous about lending to each other because of their exposure to risky European debt. Consequently, there are concerns about the risks if the Reserve Bank does not cut interest rates, with the next opportunity not until February. The Reserve Bank Governor, Glenn Stevens, ramped up the pressure on European leaders to find a swift solution to the crisis, saying that "the damage to us and everyone else will be unacceptable". It is not immediately clear, though, whether banks will be so eager to pass on the full benefits of any such cuts to consumers. The recent interest rate cut saw every major bank reduce their home loan rates by the full 0.25% with the exception of NAB, who faced strong criticism for their decision to offer less. However, Australian banks are facing higher costs of funding due to the rising cost of lending across global money markets. It is suspected that these costs will be passed onto consumers by not passing on the full benefit of central rate cuts. Therefore, it is predicted that the Reserve Bank's committee will have to cut interest rates by a bigger margin if it hopes to see any monetary benefit reach consumers. One advantage for the consumer is the legislation meaning that home loans can now be transferred without exit fee, ensuring a greater level of competition between retail banks. It may be the right time to consider Which4U's current savings account rates, in case these are set to fall in the near future. Ashley King Monday, 28 November 2011 13:19 View

"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 pockets rather than help the sick and elderly," a 20

" 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

Mumbai: The BSE Sensex plunged to 2-week low of 17,196.47 Thursday, down 405 points as investors sold stocks amid weakening rupee, allegations of massive losses to the government in coal blocks allocation and shaky overseas markets. Of the 30 Sensex scrips, 28 tumbled. All the 13 sectoral indices closed in losses, with realty, power, banking, capital goods, metal and refinery stocks being hit hard. Market heavyweight Reliance Industries dropped 4.15 percent, and Infosys by 1.39 percent. The two carry 20 percent weight on the Sensex. The rupee's sharp decline against the US dollar to Rs 51 level worried investors that it will inflate government's import bill, especially on account of oil, worsening fiscal deficit situation. Besides, reminiscent of the 2G spectrum allocation scam, the Comptroller an Auditor General (CAG) said in a draft report that the government lost Rs 10.67 lakh crore on account of allotment of coal blocks to 100 private and public sector companies without auction during 2004-2009. However, CAG later informed the Prime Minister that media reports on alleged coal scam were "exceedingly misleading". Sensex moved in a narrow range till late afternoon, but last hour selling pulled it down sharply to 17,196.47, erasing 405.24 points or 2.30 percent. In last two days, it had risen 328.34 points or 1.90 percent. Similarly, NSE 50-scrip index Nifty tumbled 136.50 points or 2.54 percent to two-week low of 5,228.45. "A mix of domestic and global factors hurt investor sentiment. The leakage of a draft CAG draft report weighed markets down. The Indian rupee weakened against the US dollar further spooked sentiments," said Paras Bothra, Research Head, Ashika Stock Brokers. Globally, European markets were trading weak, adding to investor woes, he said. As per Sebi data, FIIs bought shares worth Rs 651.70 crore yesterday. Asian stocks were down in early trade after a survey showed China's manufacturing has shrunk. Key indices in China, Singapore and Sou

Sony, the giant Japanese electronics maker, plans to cut 6% of its workforce or around 10,000 jobs as they continue with their efforts to restructure their business, the 3rd job cut since 2005. It has already sold 2 divisions and is now scaling back its TV production.   According to Bloomberg's data, the biggest consumer electronics exporter in Japan has 168,200 staff last year. Around half of the job cuts resulted from publicized deals the company has previously made. Last month, Sony sold a chemicals subsidiary to the Development Bank of Japan while it spun off small LCD production last year into a joint deal with Toshiba and Hitachi. The remaining 5,000 job cuts will come from its unprofitable TV division that is now being overhauled in hopes of restoring the firm's health.   The 51-year old CEO, Kazuo Hirai, replaced Howard Stringer this month and immediately set out to do his promise of "unavoidable, painful choices" in order to turn the company's operations into a more profitable one.   Hirai has been credited in making the PlayStation business profitable; now he is set to put himself in charge of and bring a new team for the firm's TV business. Sony even revealed a new organizational chart that has omitted a management layer between the CEO and the head of TV department so Hirai could manage them directly.