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IN THE MATTER OF: MORTGAGE RELIEF GROUP, LLC ("Respondent") * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
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ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST AND ORDER IMPOSING CIVIL PENALTY |
I. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
WHEREAS, the Banking Commissioner (“Commissioner”) is charged with the administration of Sections 36a-671 to 36a-671d, inclusive, of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes contained in Part II of Chapter 669 of the Connecticut General Statutes, “Debt Adjusters and Debt Negotiation”;
WHEREAS, the Commissioner, through the Consumer Credit Division of the Department of Banking, conducted an investigation of the activities of Respondent, pursuant to the authority granted by Section 36a-17(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes, to determine if it had violated, was violating or was about to violate the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner;
WHEREAS, on January 11, 2011, the Commissioner, acting pursuant to Section 36a-671a(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes and Sections 36a-52(a) and 36a-50(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes, issued a Notice of Intent to Issue Order to Cease and Desist, Notice of Intent to Impose Civil Penalty and Notice of Right to Hearing (collectively “Notice”) against Respondent, which Notice is incorporated herein by reference;
WHEREAS, on January 13, 2011, the Notice was sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, to Respondent (Registered Mail Nos. RB028037615US and RB028037632US);
WHEREAS, the Notice provided Respondent with the opportunity for a hearing, and stated that if a hearing was not requested within 14 days of its receipt, the Commissioner would issue an order that Respondent cease and desist from violating Sections 36a-671(b) and 36a-671b(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes, and may order that the maximum civil penalty of Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000) be imposed upon Respondent;
WHEREAS, on January 20, 2011, the Notice was received by Respondent and no request for hearing has been received by the Commissioner;
WHEREAS, the Commissioner alleged in the Notice, with respect to the activity described therein, that Respondent’s offering to engage in debt negotiation in this state without obtaining the required license constitutes a violation of Section 36a-671(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes. Such violation forms the basis to issue an order to cease and desist pursuant to Section 36a-671a(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes and Section 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes and impose a civil penalty pursuant to Section 36a-671a(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes and Section 36a-50(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes;
WHEREAS, the Commissioner alleged in the Notice, with respect to the activity described therein, that Respondent’s engaging in debt negotiation in this state without obtaining the required license constitutes a violation of Section 36a-671(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes. Such violation forms the basis to issue an order to cease and desist pursuant to Section 36a-671a(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes and Section 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes and impose a civil penalty pursuant to Section 36a-671a(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes and Section 36a-50(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes;
WHEREAS, the Commissioner alleged in the Notice, with respect to the activity described therein, that Respondent’s engaging in debt negotiation services on and after October 1, 2009, with at least four Connecticut residents and charging fees under terms which did not comply with Section 36a-671b(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes and the schedule of maximum fees established by the Commissioner pursuant to said section, constitutes four (4) violations of Section 36a-671b(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes. Such violations form the basis to issue an order to cease and desist pursuant to Section 36a-671a(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes and Section 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes and impose a civil penalty pursuant to Section 36a-671a(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes and Section 36a-50(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes;
WHEREAS, Section 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes provides, in pertinent part, that “[i]f the person does not request a hearing within the time specified in the notice or fails to appear at the hearing, the commissioner shall issue an order to cease and desist against the person. No such order shall be issued except in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54”;
WHEREAS, Section 36a-50(a)(2) of the Connecticut General Statutes provides, in pertinent part, that “[i]f such person does not request a hearing within the time specified in the notice or fails to appear at the hearing, the commissioner may, as the facts require, order that a civil penalty not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars per violation be imposed upon such person”;
WHEREAS, Section 36a-50(a)(3) of the Connecticut General Statutes provides, in pertinent part, that “[e]ach action undertaken by the commissioner under this subsection shall be in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54”;
AND WHEREAS, Section 36a-1-31(a) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies provides, in pertinent part, that “[w]hen a party fails to request a hearing within the time specified in the notice, the allegations against the party may be deemed admitted. Without further proceedings or notice to the party, the commissioner shall issue a final decision in accordance with section 4-180 of the Connecticut General Statutes and section 36a-1-52 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies”.
II. FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
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The Commissioner finds that the matters asserted, as set forth in paragraphs 1 through 5, inclusive, of Section II of the Notice, shall constitute findings of fact within the meaning of Section 4-180(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes, and that the conclusions, as set forth in paragraphs 1 through 3, inclusive, of Section III of the Notice, shall constitute conclusions of law within the meaning of Section 4-180(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 36a-1-52 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. |
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The Commissioner finds that Respondent has engaged in acts or conduct which, pursuant to Section 36a-671a(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes and Section 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes, forms the basis to issue an order to cease and desist against Respondent, and, pursuant to Section 36a-671a(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes and Section 36a-50(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes, forms the basis to impose a civil penalty upon Respondent. |
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The Commissioner finds that the Notice was given in compliance with Sections 36a-52(a), 36a-50(a) and 4-177 of the Connecticut General Statutes. |
III. ORDER
Having read the record, I HEREBY ORDER, pursuant to Section 36a-671a(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes and Sections 36a-52(a) and 36a-50(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes, that:
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Mortgage Relief Group, LLC d/b/a Mortgage Assistance Group CEASE AND DESIST from violating Sections 36a-671(b) and 36a-671b(b) of the 2010 Supplement to the General Statutes; |
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A CIVIL PENALTY of Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000) be imposed against Mortgage Relief Group, LLC d/b/a Mortgage Assistance Group to be remitted to the Department of Banking by cashier’s check, certified check or money order, made payable to “Treasurer, State of Connecticut”, no later than thirty (30) days from the date this Order is mailed; and |
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This Order shall become effective when mailed.
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Dated at Hartford, Connecticut
this 19th day of May 2011. ________/s/_________
Howard F. Pitkin
Banking Commissioner
This Order was sent by certified mail,
return receipt requested, to
Respondent on May 19 2011.
Mortgage Relief Group, LLC Certified Mail No. 70100290000274891547
d/b/a Mortgage Assistance Group
Attention: Stan Niiaddo Allotey, Member
8601 North Black Canyon Highway #209
Phoenix, AZ 85021
Mortgage Relief Group, LLC Certified Mail No. 70100290000274891554
d/b/a Mortgage Assistance Group
Attention: Stan Niiaddo Allotey, Member
2222 W. Northern Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85021-4957