FTC asked to investigate deceptive marketing practices

[Anonymous]

Since THE WHO agrees with Congressman Miller's work, maybe he can get his favorite organization to help out, too. It's so nice to have THE WHO helping out.

[Anonymous]

It's so nice to have THE WHO helping out.

 :rofl:  :rofl:

[Anonymous]

I've got a sinking feeling in my stomach that this will ultimately be the approach that does them in.

For some reason economic crimes are prosecuted more aggressively than child abuse.

[Anonymous]

[Guest"]

I've got a sinking feeling in my stomach that this will ultimately be the approach that does them in.

For some reason economic crimes are prosecuted more aggressively than child abuse.]

Agreed.  The Tom Greene Mormon case in Utah  is a good example.  Greene was not found guilty of bigamy or for raping his many "teen brides."  He was eventually put into prison for welfare fraud.

[Anonymous]

To be quite honest this is probably one of the smartest approaches because there is NOT infinite regrowth to the whack-a-mole game, at least not when it's played properly. The FTC doesn't go for shutdowns- they go for finances. Good luck reopening when you've lost everything and can't get a loan. gb/2/Walmart.

For the programs and the ed-cons- particularly the ed-cons- this is a flanked attack out of nowhere that they have no idea how to deal with. "Fair trade practices? Honesty in advertfising? HUH?" Expect lots of rants along the lines of Lon Toolbury's- how DARE the government prevent fraud resulting in child abuse!

The only really bad part about this approach is that it will teach the most serious, organized shitheads nothing. Even if what's left of WWASPS is boiled away like so much liquid helium, even if it leaves CRC Health/Aspen/Bain drawing back a bloody stump, and smacks down some of the Straight-based shit, there's still the real nasty ones like Peninsula Village and the Judge Rotenberg Center to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Yup - the owner of Wellspring just got 30 months in prison for fraud.

And that case is just the tip of the iceberg, IMO.  The FTC needs your letters and any tips you have.  

They should also be notified of any lawsuits (civil or otherwise) alleging fraud and/or deceptive marketing practices.

Seize the moment!  It's only taken what, 40 years to get here?

[Anonymous]

Yup - the owner of Wellspring just got 30 months in prison for fraud.

And that case is just the tip of the iceberg, IMO.  The FTC needs your letters and any tips you have.  

They should also be notified of any lawsuits (civil or otherwise) alleging fraud and/or deceptive marketing practices.

Seize the moment!  It's only taken what, 40 years to get here?

Please post source of information. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

The source of info is the first post in this thread.

As a regulatory/investigative agency, the Federal Trade Commission would be greatly helped by people sending in information regarding unscrupulous activities. They can then verify the allegations.

The previous post was probably made by TheWho trying to discourage people from sending these things in.

Does anyone have a good point-of-contact for the FTC in relation to this?

[Anonymous]

School Founder Found Guilty of Fraud Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison
 
Former Wellspring Academy head given 30 months in prison
By Mike Gangloff

Related Story

School's founder guilty of fraud

Robert Serge Gluhareff, who headed the financially troubled Wellspring Academy in Halifax County, will spend 30 months in prison for a variety of fraud charges.

Gluhareff, who in April pleaded guilty to two federal charges linked to bank fraud, one to mail fraud and one to tax fraud, led a high-priced school for troubled boys that touted the Christian framework of its program. Prosecutors said he propped up the school's shaky finances by depositing bad checks or tuition checks that he knew parents could not yet cover. He also encouraged parents to label advance tuition payments as scholarship donations and to claim tax deductions for them, prosecutors said.

When the school closed suddenly in 2003, parents who paid in advance were out thousands of dollars.

Today, U.S. District Judge Samuel Wilson sentenced Gluhareff to 30 months in prison on each of the four charges, to be served concurrently. Gluhareff also was ordered to pay more than $500,000 restitution, although both defense and prosecution agreed that it’s unlikely he’ll be able to repay that much.

Gluhareff said he plans to appeal

http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/111501

[Anonymous]

This automated form might be a good place to start.

[Anonymous]

Deborah Platt Majoras
Chairman Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580

[Anonymous]

Deborah Platt Majoras
Chairman Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580

Send 'em all in, folks. All of them. Be sure to let the FTC know how many people lied to you. It is VITAL that you name them.

[Anonymous]

Can we PLEASE make this thread a STICKY?  This is something survivors can certainly address, as well as parents, and I'm afraid it may get lost in the sauce.

Thank You!

[Anonymous]

I have read that there are no laws to require programs (or those who market and sell them for a referral commission or "finder's fee") to disclose to parents that children have died in a program they may be referring, or that the owners may be embroiled in civil lawsuits alleging abuse.  If this is true, I strongly urge anyone who has direct experience of first-hand-knowledge to contact the FTC.

[Anonymous]

Sue Scheff /Pure continued to refer children to Whitmore Academy while the owners, Mark and Cheryl Sudweeks were being investigated for criminal child abuse.  Wonder if Scheff diclosed this criminal investigation to the parents she continued to refer to Whitmore Academy?