THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS

January 19 to January 23, 2015

TOP HEADLINES

Holding Accountable Standard & Poor’s For Misleading Investors

Following a joint investigation with the SEC and Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Attorney General Schneiderman reached a settlement with Standard and Poor’s regarding false and misleading statements made by the credit rating agency in connection with its rating of certain commercial mortgage backed securities. As part of the settlement, S&P admitted specific facts concerning its misrepresentations, agreed to pay New York a penalty of $12 million, and to cease and desist from committing violations of the Martin Act. S&P also agreed to refrain from rating any new commercial mortgage backed securities for a year.

Forcing Fraudulent Vacation Company To Pay For Scamming New Yorkers

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a settlement with Vacation Tours USA over a false advertising scam targeting consumers across New York State. The company sent letters to consumers telling them they had won a vacation package, including airfare and lodging, and invited them to attend a seminar at a local hotel. Once at the hotel, consumers were forced to sit through a sales presentation, where it became clear that there were no free tickets or lodging. As a result of the settlement, the company has ceased deceptive practices, and must pay restitution to victims and a $22,500 penalty.

Stopping Racially Discriminatory Mortgage Lending Practices In Rochester

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Attorney General Schneiderman announced a settlement with Five Star Bank for participating in discriminatory mortgage practices in Rochester. An investigation by the office of the Attorney General found that Five Star excluded predominantly minority neighborhoods from its lending area; deemed loans secured by property outside of the bank’s lending area to be “undesirable”; and imposed a minimum mortgage amount requirement that made many of the bank’s mortgage products effectively unavailable in predominantly minority neighborhoods. In a landmark agreement brokered by Attorney General Schneiderman, Five Star Bank is required to open two new Rochester-area branch offices located in neighborhoods with a minority population of at least 30%. The agreement also requires Five Star to create a Special Financing Program that will provide a total of $500,000 in discounts or subsidies on loans to residents of majority-minority neighborhoods in the Rochester metro area, as well as a marketing program that will devote $250,000 to advertising directed to minority communities.

Supporting Opportunities that Make New York Safe for All

Reacting to this year’s State of the State address, Attorney General Schneiderman agreed that by working together, we can make New York stronger for all communities. He looks forward to helping New York’s leaders invest in our infrastructure to create jobs and ensure that all New Yorkers get a fair shot by raising wages for the lowest-paid workers and expanding opportunities for immigrants to pursue higher education, among other things. The Attorney General also emphasized the need to ensure our criminal justice system is as fair and effective as possible, praising a new policy change that would end the treatment of juvenile defendants as adults in a letter to The New York Times.

Cracking Down On A $350,000 Investment Scheme

Attorney General Schneiderman announced the arrest of an Orange County resident that allegedly went to outrageous lengths, including creating a fake identity, to trick his victim into trusting him with hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to the indictment unsealed in New York County Supreme Court, the individual held himself out as a millionaire fashion designer and sent numerous forged emails to the victim in order to make the investments appear legitimate and to conceal his theft. The Attorney General’s investigation into additional crimes by this individual against additional victims in New York and other states continues.

Protecting Innocent Bank Consumers From Identity Theft

Attorney General Schneiderman announced the conviction of two individuals from the Bronx, who pleaded guilty to participating in a brazen identity-theft ring that targeted customers of local banks. The ring stole over $850,000 by using bank tellers to fraudulently obtain the personal information of hundreds of unsuspecting customers, and then creating fake identification cards to withdraw money from the accounts. This conviction sends a strong message from the Attorney General’s office: if you commit this kind of crime, you will face jail time.

Jail Time For Those Who Steal From Our Pension System

Attorney General Schneiderman and State Comptroller DiNapoli announced that the guilty plea of a Florida woman who stole more than $120,000 from the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System. The defendant failed to notify the Retirement System of her uncle’s death and utilized power of attorney to withdraw pension benefits paid on his behalf during a twelve year period. This case is the latest joint investigation under the partnership of the Attorney General and Comptroller which has resulted in dozens of convictions and more than $6 million in restitution.

Urging Supreme Court To Uphold Fair Housing Act

With arguments taking place this past week over the most recent challenge to the Fair Housing Act, Attorney General Schneiderman encouraged the U.S. Supreme Court to promote equal access to housing opportunities. He called on the Court to uphold the longstanding interpretation of the federal Fair Housing Act that allows challenges to practices that have a “disparate impact” on protected groups, such as racial minorities. Last year, the Attorney General led a coalition of 16 other states and filed a brief defending the importance of this provision in rooting out entrenched discrimination.

Holding Auto Dealerships that Deceive Consumers Accountable

Attorney General Schneiderman announced a settlement with a Middletown auto dealer that charged customers an undisclosed $500 “processing fee” when those customers bought vehicles at the end of their leases. No additional services were provided for the payment of this fee. Pursuant to the settlement, Middletown Honda will repay a total of $87,000 to 174 customers who were charged the bogus processing fee. In addition, if any other consumer files a complaint with the Attorney General’s office and also paid the bogus fee, they will be entitled to the same restitution.

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In Other News…

The Attorney General filed expanded allegations against Barclays regarding the bank’s alleged wrongdoing in the operation of their dark pool, a private exchange for trading. You can read the new complaint here.

Attorney General Schneiderman praised President Obama’s State of the Union proposals to reform our cyber security protocols, make community college more affordable, and cut taxes for middle- and low-income families.

The Attorney General also applauded Mayor de Blasio for leading more than 30 cities in standing up Immigration Action, following his amicus brief also defending this important step forward.

On the anniversary of the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling, Attorney General Schneiderman explained why he continues to defend access to reproductive health care.

He also emphasized the need to continue fighting the influence of money in politics five years after the Citizens United decision.

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