STATE OF NEW YORK : CITY OF BUFFALO

CITY COURT : COUNTY OF ERIE

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,

-against- FELONY COMPLAINT

LAMONT D. COOPER, and

Special Investigator Sandra J. Migaj, New York State Attorney General’s Office, being

duly sworn, deposes and says that the defendants, Lamont D. Cooper, and CMC Services, Inc.,

dba Legal Action Recovery committed the following crime:

SCHEME to DEFRAUD in the FIRST DEGREE, in violation of New York State

Penal Law, ' 190.65(1)(a), in that the defendant, acting individually and in concert with others,

on or about and between March 2009 and June 3, 2010, at 3060 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, New

York, engaged in a scheme constituting a systematic ongoing course of conduct with the intent to

defraud more than ten persons and to obtain property from more than ten persons by false and

fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises, and so obtained property, from one or more

of such persons.

And, the defendant, Lamont D. Cooper, committed the following crime:

CRIMINAL CONTEMPT in the SECOND DEGREE, in violation of New York State

Penal Law, ' 215.50(3), in that the defendant, Lamont D. Cooper, on or about and between May

4, 2009, and June 3, 2010, engaged in the intentional disobedience and resistance to the lawful

process and mandate of a court.

1. This felony complaint is based upon an investigation conducted by the New York

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State Attorney General’s (“NYSAG”) office; an examination of records maintained by the

NYSAG; a review of consumer complaints described below filed with the Federal Trade

Commission on their Sentinel System 1 ; statements taken from cooperating witnesses listed

below; the acquisition and review of information listed below that was obtained through the use

of readily available Internet tools and databases; the acquisition and review of business records

listed below, bank statements, and telephone records obtained from a variety of sources; and

observations made by NYSAG investigators. These crimes were committed under the following

circumstances.

Background

2. This investigation has determined that Lamont D. Cooper ("Cooper"), and others

(“the Cooper group”), using numerous business identities, including CMC Recovery Services,

Inc., dba Legal Action Recovery, participated in an elaborate scheme that was designed to

conceal their true locations and identities, and engaged in an on-going scheme to obtain money

through various means, including extortion, from individual consumers/debtors across the

country. Debt collectors (“collectors”) employed by the Cooper group, operating out of a

location in Buffalo New York, routinely made telephone calls that were designed to instill fear in

the minds of the recipients of the telephone calls. The recipients were made to believe, that if

they failed to make immediate arrangements for the payment of an alleged debt, they would be

charged with a crime, arrested and put in jail. In furtherance of this scheme, the debt collectors

pretended to be state, federal or local law enforcement officers acting within the scope of their

1
The Consumer Sentinel System is the unique investigative cyber tool that provides law enforcement
members of the Consumer Sentinel System with access to millions of consumer complaints. Consumer Sentinel
includes complaints about such matters as: identity theft, telemarketing scams, debt collections, credit reports, and
financial matters. The Consumer Sentinel System provides law enforcement members with access to complaints
provided directly to the Federal Trade Commission by consumers, as well as providing members with access to
complaints shared by data contributors.

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duties, in order to give credibility to their threats. Sometimes, the debt collectors attempted to

collect non-existent debts. Frightened consumers authorized withdrawals from their checking

accounts, or sent Western Union money grams and/or money orders because they were in fear.

Lamont Cooper was in charge of this illegal operation and his involvement with this debt

collection business was an intentional disobedience and resistance to an April 15, 2009, Consent

Order and Judgment that was granted by New York State Supreme Court Justice Diane Y.

Devlin.

Lamont D. Cooper, Emanee Development, Inc., and Dial Tech LLC

3. The consumer complaints described below allege that debt collectors used two

specific toll-free telephone numbers, (877) 201-3399 and (877) 209-5454. The NYSAG

obtained telephone subscriber records, showing that Lamont Cooper was the subscriber for these

toll free numbers that were involved in the debt collection business. A search of NYSAG

records showed that Lamont Cooper had a prior history of being involved in the debt collection

business in Buffalo, New York.

4. Those records show that, prior to April 2009 Lamont Cooper owned and operated

Emanee and Dial Tech, two debt collection businesses. Based upon consumer complaints that

had been filed prior to April 2009 the NYSAG commenced a civil suit against Cooper and these

companies, alleging persistent fraud and illegality in the operation of those businesses.

5. On April 15, 2009, Lamont Cooper, individually and as President of, and on

behalf of, Emanee and Dial Tech, signed a Stipulation and Consent which resulted in a Consent

Order and Judgment ("Judgment") that was signed on April 23, 2009 by Supreme Court Justice

Diane Y. Devlin. This Judgment is binding on Cooper, Emanee, Dial Tech, and “…their agents,

trustees, servants, employees, successors, heirs and assigns, and any other person under their

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direction and control….” The Judgment permanently enjoins the respondents from “…engaging,

directly or indirectly, in any debt collection business.” The Judgment was filed in the Erie

County Clerk's office on May 4, 2009 and delivered to Lamont Cooper's attorney, Thomas

Eoannou Esq., on May 6, 2009. A copy of the Consent Order and Judgment, as well as the

attached Stipulation and Consent, signed by Lamont Cooper, is attached as exhibit A. 2

The Present Consumer Complaints

6. Starting in December, 2009, and continuing until June 3, 2010, I have obtained

and reviewed consumer complaints filed with the Georgia Better Business Bureau, the Georgia

Governor’s office, and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) on its Consumer Sentinel

System.

7. Beginning in early 2009, and continuing until June 2010 the FTC Consumer

Sentinel System received dozens of consumer complaints from individuals around the country,

who stated that they had been harassed and threatened about debts for which they may or may

not have been responsible. All of these complaints were related to Cooper's debt collection

business , CMC Recovery Services, Inc., 3 DBA Legal Action Recovery ("Legal Action

Recovery"), and/or two specific toll-free telephone numbers: (877) 201-3399 and (877) 209-

5454.

8. The tactics used by the individual collectors using these two telephone numbers

went far beyond what is allowed by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) 4 , in that

the callers falsely threatened to institute a lawsuit or bring other legal action, used obscene,

2
It should be noted that Lamont Cooper complied with that portion of the Consent Order and Judgment
which required the payment of $40,000 to the NYSAG as restitution, costs and penalties.
3
CMC Recovery Services, Inc. was incorporated in Georgia in 2006. Lamont Cooper is listed on the
records maintained by the Georgia Secretary of State as the CFO.
4
The FDCPA generally limits the collectors’ contact with the debtors and is designed to prevent
harassment, abuse, and other false or misleading practices. The FDCPA may be found at 15 USC §§ 1692-1692p.

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profane or otherwise abusive language, threatened violence, failed to identify themselves as debt

collectors, and often scared and coerced the individuals into paying money that they did not owe.

9. Consumers complained about high-pressure tactics, such as the refusal to discuss

the basis for the alleged debt, and threats of arrest and jail by “special investigators” and other

law enforcement personnel, unless arrangements were made for immediate payments. The

callers commonly used the company name “Legal Action Recovery”, and consumers who were

told to call back were given phone numbers: (877) 201-3399 and (877) 209-5454.

10. The NYSAG obtained and reviewed approximately 300 Consumer Sentinel

complaints filed with the FTC between March, 2009, and June 3, 2010. All of these complaints

mentioned Legal Action Recovery, and 243 of these complaints listed one of the two toll-free

telephone numbers noted above that had been purchased and subscribed to by Lamont Cooper;

127 of the complaints listed 877-209-5454; and 116 listed 877-201-3399.

11. The approximately 300 Consumer Sentinel complaints outline multiple violations

of the FDCPA. In addition to 165 instances of falsely threatening suit or legal action, there were

also 40 instances of obscene, profane or otherwise abusive language; 12 instances in which the

caller threatened violence; and 52 times when the caller failed to identify him/herself as a debt

collector. There were 107 consumers who indicated that they were threatened with arrest and/or

the seizure of their property.

12. In addition, the Georgia Better Business Bureau and the Georgia Governor’s

office reported receiving 72 complaints against Legal Action Recovery from February, 2009, to

June 3, 2010, including 17 in which the consumer was threatened with arrest. These threats of

arrest, constituting grand larceny or attempted grand larceny by extortion, have continued into

June 2010.

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 13. On June 21, 2010, I spoke with Kenya Barker ("Barker"), an individual who had

made a complaint to the FTC Consumer Sentinel System on June 8, 2010. Barker told me that

on June 8, 2010, a message was left on her mother's voicemail indicating that Kenya Barker was

involved in a legal matter, and that charges were going to be brought against her. Barker

returned the call to (877) 209-5454 and was told that she owed money. Barker told "special

investigator Ronald Scott" that all of her debts had been discharged in bankruptcy. When Barker

asked Scott for a copy of supporting documentation, or that Scott speak with her attorney, Scott

refused. When Barker told Scott that she was filing a complaint with the FTC and the Better

Business Bureau, Scott terminated the call.

14. Representatives of the NYSAG contacted and obtained affidavits from

approximately one dozen consumers who had been contacted by Legal Action Recovery and/or

given the toll-free call back telephone numbers (877) 201-3399 and (877) 209-5454. Nine of

these affidavits are detailed below in paragraphs 15- 23 and describe the transactions with

representatives of the Cooper debt collection group.

15. In December, 2009, Tammie King (“King”) began receiving telephone voice mail

messages from (877) 209-5454. The caller told “Tammie Thompson” (King’s maiden name) to

call the (877) 209-5454 to discuss a legal matter. A couple of days later, King received a call

from “Chris” at Legal Action Recovery about an alleged pay day loan 5 debt of $1,940.98. Not

only did King not remember any pay day loan from ten years ago, she had subsequently gone

through bankruptcy and had her debts discharged. “Chris” told King that Legal Action Recovery

had assumed the debt and that if King failed to pay, she would be prosecuted in Charles County,

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Based upon my experience and training, I know that a pay day loan (also called a paycheck advance,
check cashing loan or pay day advance) is a small, short-term loan that is intended to cover a borrower’s expenses
until his/her next pay day.

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and that a police officer would present her with a warrant for her arrest. A few days later, a

female, who identified herself as “Investigator Rosenthaul” from Legal Action Recovery, called

King and repeated the details that “Chris” had previously explained to King. King agreed to

make a payment using her credit card on December 31, 2009. On January 4, 2010, King again

received a call from Investigator Rosenthaul, who told King that her credit card would not accept

the charge. King asked the caller to try again on January 11, 2010. Investigator Rosenthaul told

King that, if the debt was not paid, charges would be filed against her in Charles County Court.

16. On December 2, 2009, a message was left on the voice mail at Leila Jacoel’s

(“Jacoel”) mother’s house. The caller, from Legal Action Recovery, said: “I am a prosecutor,

there is a felony case pending against Leila Jacoel, and she needs to contact me as soon as

possible at 1-877-201-3399, or she will be arrested at her job.” Jacoel returned the call,

pretended to be her mother, and spoke with a man who identified himself as “Beau William.”

William identified himself as a prosecutor and said that Leila Jacoel owed money in Santa Clara

County; that there was a lawsuit pending against her, and that Jacoel would be arrested. Jacoel

hung up on William. The next day, December 3, 2009, Jacoel’s fourteen year-old daughter

answered the telephone at her grandmother’s home. The caller told Jacoel’s daughter that he was

looking for Leila Jacoel, and if Jacoel did not call 1-877-201-3399 immediately, she would go to

jail.

17. On October 23, 2009, a man telephoned James Fleming (“Fleming”) from

telephone number 1-877-209-5454, and asked for a person who does not reside with Fleming.

The man told Fleming that he was calling from Legal Action Recovery, and if the person failed

to respond within 24 hours, a summons would be issued and the person would be arrested.

18. In June, 2009, Mickey Harvin (“Harvin”) received a telephone call from a man

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claiming to represent Legal Action Recovery. The man told Harvin that he owed a credit card

debt from 1999, and that it could be settled for $1,900; otherwise, Harvin would be brought

before a judge. Harvin agreed to pay $40 per month, and on or about June 23, 2009, Harvin

mailed a personal check in the amount of $40 to Central Merchants Payment Processing.

19. On January 15, 2010, Michelle Nicholas’ (“Nicholas”) mother-in-law received a

message on her answering machine from “Karen Headley”, stating that Michelle was being

investigated and there were possible criminal charges pending. Nicholas called the contact

telephone number immediately, and spoke with a woman who said that she would be arrested

unless she paid off an alleged debt. Out of fear of being arrested, Nicholas agreed to pay

$1,925.71 using her debit card. After Nicholas provided the necessary information, she spoke

with a number of people, decided that she had been scammed, and closed her debit card account

before any funds could be withdrawn. Nicholas’ husband called the contact number and left a

message indicating they had closed the account. Shortly thereafter, a man returned the call and

threatened to have both Michelle and her husband arrested, and told them that he would send the

sheriff to their house to have them picked up. After this conversation, the Nicholas’ received a

document by mail stating the terms of the payment arrangement Michelle had made in her initial

conversation with the company representative. The document was from Legal Action Recovery

in Marietta, Georgia, but the envelope was postmarked Buffalo, New York.

20. Legal Action Recovery contacted Kai T. Wilson (“Wilson”) in March 2008 after

which he agreed to settle an alleged debt of $5,450 for $3,250, by paying $50 monthly to Legal

Action Recovery, c/o SBS, 164 Power Ferry Road, Building 2, Suite 300B, Marietta, Georgia

30067. Legal Action Recovery called Wilson again in August 2009 and told Wilson that the

company’s new name and address was CMP Processing Service, Inc., 3370 Sugarloaf Parkway,

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 21. On December 12, 2009, Lorna King (“King”) received a voice mail message from

“investigator Joanna Ziokowski (“Joanna”)” at 1-877-209-5454, stating that King should call

back immediately regarding a specific case number. King returned the call and Joanna told King

that she owed and must pay $1,500 for a 2004 pay day loan; Joanna also stated that the failure to

pay would result in King being charged within seven days with a criminal offense/felonious

violation. After King told Joanna that she was a disabled veteran, Joanna agreed to reduce the

debt to $587, but specified that it had to be paid that day by credit card, debit card, or bank

draft.Even though King was sure that she had paid off this loan, she was very nervous after

hearing about a criminal charge and agreed to pay $100 per month. Joanna insisted that the

minimum payment be $146 per month, and King agreed, so long as the payments did not start

until December 31, 2009. King was then asked for her credit card information, as well as her

social security number and driver’s license number. After this last call, King checked her three

credit reports and was unable to find any past due debt. As a result, King cancelled her

payments. On December 31, 2009, King received a voice message from “Joanna”, who at this

time, purported to be calling from Harvey Lynn & Associates at 1-877-209-5454, indicating that

her payment had been declined by the bank. On January 4, 2010, King received a second voice

message, this time from “investigator Nicholas Morrell,” stating that, as a result of King’s

conduct, she would be charged three times the debt, plus a $1,000 penalty, and that criminal

charges were forthcoming. A third voice message was left on King’s telephone on January 11,

2010. On this occasion, a female called from 404-474-2557, and stated that King had 48 hours

to respond in order to avoid having “servants” come to King’s door at *** North Park Avenue,

Apartment *. The caller stated that this would occur because King had allegedly committed a

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felonious act in the State of Georgia.

22. On November 18, 2009, Michael Smith (“Smith”) received the following voice

mail message on his home telephone: “This message is for Kum Smith regarding a summons

issued in Ramsey County Consolatory Court regarding a debt of $6,295.96 to U.S. Bank. It is

imperative that she call back at 1-877-209-5454.” Michael Smith returned the call and a man

told him that if the debt was not settled immediately, his wife would be arrested and would face

jail time. After hearing that, Smith agreed to pay and gave his bank information to a woman.

Further, it was agreed that the funds would be withdrawn on November 30, 2009. After this

exchange, Smith researched the company and the phone number, contacted the Georgia and New

York State Attorneys General, and stopped payment with his bank. Thereafter, Smith received a

November 18, 2009, letter from Legal Action Recovery summarizing the proposed settlement.

On December 3, 2009, the following message was left on Smith’s telephone:

This message is intended for Kum Smith. This is investigator Jacob Roberts contacting
you regarding a court-ordered summons, involves a criminal complaint being filed
against you for writing a bad check across state lines. My agency could hold you
responsible regarding this matter because it seems like the transaction to pay this
account was closed. That’s a criminal offense, actually its malicious intent to defraud
a financial institution because it’s over $3,000. Now I need to speak to you
immediately regarding this fraud to get to the bottom of the situation. My phone
number is 877-209-5454, extension 111. My name is Investigator Roberts.

A similar message was left again on December 4, 2009.

23. In January, 2010, Edwin Oakland’s (“Oakland”) wife answered a telephone call

from 1-877-201-3399, and spoke with a woman who identified herself as “Shawn Davenport,

Special Legal Investigator.” Oakland’s wife was told that the caller was not from a collection

agency, but that she represented a client at a legal recovery company, and that Oakland’s son,

Jason, should call her back at 1-877-201-3399, extension 124. Oakland himself returned the call

to Investigator Shawn Davenport, and was told that if the matter (an alleged judgment of $956.97

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for a 2006 check advance loan) was not settled immediately, the sheriff would be sent to Jason’s

place of employment. When Oakland asked why the debt was not on Jason’s credit report, the

“investigator” offered to settle for half the total amount in monthly payments. Davenport said

she could only accept payment via a credit card or electronic funds transferred from a bank

account. When Oakland asked for proof of the debt, he received a fax from Legal Action

Recovery in Georgia on January 7, 2010, that outlined the “settlement”.

COOPER'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEBT COLLECTION BUSINESS

Bank Records

24. In November 2009 I obtained and reviewed bank records from the Bank of

America for the period May 2009 to August 2009 for two accounts in the name of CMC

Recovery Services. I observed that checks drawn on both CMC Recovery Services accounts

bear what purports to be the signature of Lamont Cooper. At the same time, I also obtained and

reviewed bank records from the Bank of America for the period May 2009 to August 2009 for

two accounts in the name of CMP Processing, because the Bank of America records connected

Lamont Cooper to those accounts. For one of the CMP Processing accounts, I observed

numerous checks bearing what purports to be the signature of Lamont Cooper.

25. In December 2009 I was advised by Ira Z. Fox (Fox”), United States Probation

Officer, that Lamont Cooper told him that he (Cooper) was working for Shepsu Financial

Services, Inc. (“Shepsu”), earning $72,000 per year, plus bonuses. Cooper told Fox that Shepsu,

a corporation owned by Cooper’s girlfriend, Cassandra Freeman, was in the business of buying

and selling debt portfolios, and that he sold some of those debt portfolios to his brother,

Desmond Cooper, the owner of CMC Recovery (“CMC”) in Georgia.

26. During this four-month period, the CMP Processing accounts showed deposits,

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apparently from debtors 6 making payments, of approximately $1.38 million . One of the CMP

Processing accounts had deposits of $1.085 million . There were withdrawals from this account

to CMC Recovery of approximately $589,000, and Shepsu also received approximately

$140,000.

27. During this four-month period, the primary CMC Recovery account showed

deposits of $656,000, withdrawals to Lamont Cooper for approximately $20,000, Shepsu for

approximately $56,000, and Global Central Management, Inc., for approximately $403,000.

28. In November 2009 I obtained and reviewed various deposit and withdrawal

information for certain transactions occurring between May 2009, and August 2009, for Global

Central Management, Inc. This account, using a Buffalo, New York, address, was used to pay

utility bills (gas, electric, telephone, cable and water), business-related bills (computing, rentals,

furniture, catering), and some payments directly to individuals, including almost $7,000 to

Lamishea Jeter.

Global Payments, Inc.

29. In January 2010 I obtained and reviewed business records maintained by Global

Payments, Inc., for the period March 2008 to December, 2009, relating to two accounts in the

name of CMP Processing, Inc. Both accounts were in Desmond Cooper’s name, with a Georgia

address. In addition, Global provided business records from September 2008 showing that CAC

Financial Enterprises, Inc. (“CAC”), 1797 NE Expressway, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, opened a

merchant payment account with Global. Lamont Cooper signed the merchant application as

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The deposits were from Global Payment, Inc. (“Global Payment”). Based on a review of their website
and business records provided by Global Payment to the NYSAG, I know that Global Payment is in the business of
processing credit card, debit card, and electronic fund transfers on behalf of merchants and consumers. The records
provided by Global Payment indicated that Global Payment collected money from consumers, on behalf of CMP
Processing, using debit and credit cards.

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vice-president and chief executive officer of CAC.

3060 BAILEY AVENUE, BUFFALO, NEW YORK

30. Based upon the connection between the toll free telephone numbers that the

consumers complained about, and 3060 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, New York, on March 4, 2010, I

conducted surveillance of the property (a two-story brick building) located at the northwest

corner of Bailey and Kensington Avenues in the City of Buffalo. I observed a door on the Bailey

Avenue side of the building. This glass door opened to stairs leading to the second floor. The

door bears the number “3060.” On the Kensington Avenue side of the building is a business

known as "Athlete’s Foot", and just above the entrance door for this first floor commercial

establishment is the number “1104.” I also observed a locked entrance door on the back side of

the building (the north-west corner) where there is a parking area. This rear door also appears to

lead to stairs going to the second floor of the building. On June 4, 2010, I observed a 2006 Black

Jeep, bearing New York registration number DTV 6783, owned by Lamishea Jeter, in the

parking area at the rear of the building located at 3060 Bailey Avenue.

Lease

31. I have obtained and reviewed a copy of the J-P Group, LLC, lease file with CMC

Recovery Services, Inc. (“CMC”), for office space on the second floor of the building at the

corner of Bailey and Kensington Avenues in the City of Buffalo.

32. The first lease was signed by on behalf of the tenant, CMC Recovery Services,

Inc., on September 12, 2007, by “Lamont Cooper, CEO.” This lease is for 1,485 square feet of

space on the second floor of the building at the corner of Bailey and Kensington Avenues. A

diagram of the second floor found in the lease file shows a long hallway, generally running

north-south, bisecting the rental space on that floor. The diagram indicates that CMC leased

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space on the backside (west side) of the second floor. The diagram also confirms that the rear

entrance door noted in paragraph 30 above leads to the second floor, and that front entrance door

with “3060” on it also leads to the second floor.

33. In all of the paperwork contained in the J-P Group, LLC, lease file, including

correspondence and the actual lease agreements, the designated representative and signatory for

CMC is Lamont Cooper, as President or CEO. On June 21, 2010, I spoke with leasing agent

Amy Komanecky, a representative of J-P Group, LLC, and was advised that CMC is current in

its rent obligations for the space located on the West side of the second floor of the building at

3060 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14215.

Telephone Service

35. As noted above, the NYSAG has collected and reviewed dozens of consumer-

debtor complaints that are related to two toll-free telephone numbers: (877) 201-3399 and (877)

209-5454.

36. I have obtained and reviewed business records from NeuStar, the designated agent

for Accessline Communications Corporation, and determined that the subscriber for both of

these toll-free telephone numbers is Lamont Cooper.

37. Based on my experience and training, I am aware that Vaspian, LLC (“Vaspian”),

provides voice over Internet (“VOIP”) telephone service to its customers. Customers purchasing

VOIP service from Vaspian pay for one or more assigned telephone numbers, and have the

option of have both outgoing and incoming telephone calls routed through another telephone

number.

38. I have obtained and reviewed business records from Vaspian for the customer

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“CMC Recovery,” 1104 Kensington Avenue, 2nd floor, Buffalo, New York 14215 7 . The contact

person on this Vaspian account is Lamont Cooper.

39. I have obtained and reviewed business records from Vaspian, the CMC account

that shows that Vaspian provides CMC with VOIP service for up to thirty telephone devices and

voice mail boxes. The CMC account agreement is divided into three sites: twelve-line service at

site name “Buffalo,” 1104 Kensington Avenue, 2nd floor, for outgoing calling line (877) 209-

5454; six-line service at site name “CMC-FIOS,” 3060 Bailey Avenue, for outgoing calling line

(877) 201-3399, and two-line service at site name “Lamont VPN,” 1 Heritage Drive, Lancaster,

New York, for outgoing calling line (877) 209-5454.

40. As a practical matter, the agreement between Vaspian and CMC allows up to

thirty debt collectors operating out of the call center, at 3060 Bailey Avenue, to send and receive

calls from debtor-consumers through the NeuStar toll-free telephone lines. Debtor-consumers

with caller identification would be led to believe that the call originated at one of the toll-free

numbers, and the debtor-consumer would be able to return calls to the debt collection business

by using one of the toll free numbers.

Internet Service

41. I am aware, from my involvement in the investigation of the debt collection

business, that it is common for such businesses to use computers to manage debt portfolios. It is

also common for debt collection groups to obtain Internet access through an Internet Service

Provider (“ISP”) to send and receive email, manage accounts remotely, and to subscribe to

services, such as LexisNexis, so that they have access to various databases that are designed to

assist in locating individual debtors, their relatives, neighbors and employers. With the added

7
This is the alternate address used for the building.

15
information obtained from LexisNexis, debt collection businesses are able to increase successful

collections.

42. I have obtained and reviewed business records from Seisint, Inc. (“Seisint”), DBA

LexisNexis, for their customer, CMC Recovery Services, Inc., 5295 Highway 78, Suite D-309,

Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087. This account was opened on July 12, 2006, by Desmond M.

Cooper, as president of CMC. The application and Seisint agreement indicate that CMC is

engaged in debt collection work.

43. Additional business records provided by Seisint detail account activity from

September 29, 2009, until December 23, 2009. During this time, CMC representatives accessed

the LexisNexis website approximately thirty thousand times from the IP address 173.14.22.1;

sixty-seven thousand times from the IP address 98.117.181.7; and thirteen thousand times from

the IP address 64.16.129.110.

44. Using readily available Internet tools, I determined that the IP address

173.14.22.1 is within the range of IP addresses controlled by Comcast Cable Communications

(Comcast”); the IP address 98.117.181.7 is within the range of IP addresses controlled by

Verizon FIOS/Verizon Internet Services, Inc. (“Verizon”), and IP address 64.16.129.110 is

within the range of IP addresses controlled by Windstream Communications (formerly NuVox),

Charlotte, North Carolina.

45. I obtained and reviewed business records maintained by Verizon showing that the

IP address 98.117.181.7 is static 8 and has been assigned and used by the Verizon business

8
Based on my experience, training and conversations I have had with NYSAG Senior Investigator Michael
McCartney, I know when a computer is configured to use the same IP address each time it powers up, this is known
as a static IP address. In contrast, in situations when the computer's IP address is assigned automatically, it is known
as a dynamic IP address.

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customer, Dial-Tech LLC, at 3060 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14215, since October 15,

2008. The account remains open as of June 17, 2010.

46. I obtained and reviewed business records maintained by Comcast showing that

the IP address 173.14.22.1 is static and has been assigned and used by the Comcast business

customer, Resolution Services of America, at 1987 Senic Hgwy N, Suite 211, Snellville, Georgia

30078, since October 17, 2008. The account remains open as of February 19, 2010.

47. I obtained and reviewed business records maintained by Windstream

Communications/NuVox showing that the IP address 64.16.129.110 is static and has been

assigned and used by CAC Financial, 1797 Northeast Expy., NE, Ste. 250, Atlanta, GA 30329,

since August 20, 2008. The account remains open as of March 18, 2010.

48. The above information confirms that Lamont Cooper, and others are operating at

least three debt collection call centers, one of which is located at 3060 Bailey Avenue in Buffalo,

and that individuals at those locations are consistently and repeatedly accessing the LexisNexis

databases from those three locations.

Abandoned Property

49. On January 20, 2010, NYSAG investigators recovered abandoned property from a

dumpster located behind the CMC offices at 3060 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, New York. Many of

those items provided additional evidence that the Cooper group of debt collectors operates using

multiple names and locations, but that the main location is the 3060 Bailey Avenue address.

Included in the abandoned property were the following items:

A. More than a hundred scrap notes and papers with what appear, based on

my experience and training, to be call back names, phone numbers, and debt portfolio account

17
reference numbers.

B. Computer-generated printouts from December, 2009, and January, 2010,

listing names of “operators” (collectors), the operator’s goals for each week and month, and the

actual amounts collected. From these reports, it appears that CMC has two teams of operators,

each with approximately twelve individuals assigned to each team.

C. Computer-generated printouts from December, 2009, and January, 2010,

listing what appears to be each operator’s initials, along with amounts collected.

D. Computer-generated printouts from December, 2009, and January, 2010,

listing work schedules for each operator, identified by his/her initials, specifying work times

and dates, as well as their assigned work station.

E. Forms, some blank, some completed, and some partially completed, for

“Credit Card” payments by a consumer-debtor in December, 2009, and January, 2010. These

forms contain such information as date, debt balance, settlement amount, operator (by initials),

client, the debtor’s name, address, phone number, and credit card information.

F. Forms, some blank, some completed and some partially completed, for

“Check” payments made by a consumer-debtor in December, 2009, and January, 2010. These

forms contain such information as date, debt balance, settlement amount, operator (by initials),

client’s name, the debtor’s name, address, phone number, bank name, account number, and

routing information.

G. Forms, some blank, some completed and some partially completed, for

“Payment Change” items that appear to have been completed when a consumer-debtor in

December, 2009, and January, 2010, changed his/her means of paying the debt or changed the

date of future payments. These forms contain such information as date, operator (by initials),

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 the debtor’s name, address, phone number credit card and bank information.

H. Computer-generated printouts from December 2009 and January 2010

listing “NSF” 9 accounts by week. These NSF reports identify the debtor, the payment dates, the

dates that the money was posted to the CMC account, and the operator (by initials) responsible

for the account.

Records from United States Bureau of Prisons

50. I am aware, from the investigation and records obtained from United States

Probation, that Lamont Cooper pled guilty on May 21, 1997, to Conspiracy to Possess with

Intent to Distribute Cocaine, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 841(a)(1) and Sec. 841(b)(1)(B) in the United States

District Court for the Western District of New York. Lamont Cooper was sentenced to 43

months’ incarceration and 5 years of supervised release. On or about October 27, 2009, Cooper

violated the terms of his supervised release and was confined by the United States Bureau of

Prisons at the Batavia Detention Facility. On February 5, 2010, Cooper was sentenced by

Federal Court Judge Richard Arcara to 14 months confinement. While detained at the Batavia

Detention Facility 10 , Cooper’s telephone calls have been recorded and his mail monitored. I

have listened to numerous telephone calls between Lamont Cooper and Lamishea Jeter and/or

Desmond Cooper. In addition, I have reviewed mail sent and received by Lamont Cooper while

incarcerated in January and February, 2010. As set forth below, the telephone calls and letters

demonstrate that Lamont Cooper, and others have been and remain actively involved in all

aspects of the debt collection business, procuring debt portfolios, operating call centers in three

states, and supervising personnel in the call centers that are calling and collecting consumer

9
Based on my experience, I know that “NSF” is short for non-sufficient funds, and in the debt collection
business, refers to those situations where promised payments by the debtors are declined by their bank or credit card
company, generally because the debtor has insufficient assets to cover the payment.
10
Cooper is currently housed at the Allenwood Detention Facility in Allenwood, PA.

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debts.

Telephone Calls

51. I have listened to over a hundred calls from Lamont Cooper to various individuals

(inmates are not allowed to receive incoming calls) between October 27, 2009, and January 5,

2010, totaling more than 500 hours. During many of those calls, the participants either identified

themselves or were named by Lamont Cooper. Accordingly, after a period of time, I was able to

identify voices even when the participants did not identify themselves. In addition, I checked the

subscriber information for the telephone numbers that Lamont Cooper called with an on-line

service provided to the NYSAG.

52. On November 7, 2009, at approximately 10:46 a.m., Lamont Cooper placed a call

to (716) 604-4855 and spoke with Cassandra Freeman for approximately 20 minutes. This

telephone number is an active wireless number subscribed to by Shepsu Financial and Cassandra

Freeman. During the conversation, Cooper asked Freeman to get a person by the name of

“Bonnie” on the phone. A third party was then conferenced into the telephone call, resulting in a

three-party conversation. Bonnie asked Lamont Cooper how he went about being notified of

charge backs 11 against their bank accounts. Lamont Cooper informed Bonnie that Lamishea

would check the accounts, see if there is a charge back, and would fax it to Lamont Cooper’s

efax. Lamont Cooper would then forward it over to Bonnie. Then, Jeter would forward it to

either “Jahaan” or “Desmond” and they would send it to Bonnie. During this conversation,

Lamont Cooper instructed Bonnie to “[f]inish off numbers for the 10th, then we need to run

client reports. I’m gonna have probably “Des” run reports, just run them I think…he gonna enter

11
Based on my experience and training, I know that in the debt collection business “charge backs” refer to those
circumstances when a debtor-consumer advises his/her bank and or credit card company to cancel or stop payment,
resulting in the bank or credit card company charging the account holders’ bank account.

20
them into my client report spreadsheet. I’m going to have Jahaan review them so he can at least

know how to do it.”

53. On November 9, 2009, at approximately 10:21 a.m., Lamont Cooper placed a call

to (678) 520-2039 and spoke with Jahaan McDuffie for approximately 23 minutes. This

telephone number is an active wireless number subscribed to by Jahaan McDuffie. The

conversation was about an account designated “WOU” 12 and purchasing debt portfolios from

“Will.” During the conversation, Lamont Cooper said, “The office in Buffalo got a lot of WOU

in both houses.” McDuffie asked Lamont Cooper how the business went about purchasing debt

portfolios from Will. Lamont Cooper advised McDuffie to speak with Will and tell Will how

much they wanted to spend on a portfolio. Will would then put together a package for them and

send a contract over with the exact dollar amount of the portfolio. Jeter would then wire the

money to Will. The portfolio accounts would come back to Jeter and she would format them so

they slide right into the system. 13

54. On November 11, 2009, at approximately 12:49 p.m., Lamont Cooper placed a

call to (678) 520-2039 and spoke with Jahaan McDuffie for approximately 6 minutes. The

conversation was about a CMP 2 bank account. Lamont Cooper explained to McDuffie they

needed to keep enough money in this account to pay for payroll, bonuses, remits, operating costs

and “anything else that might come down the pipe.”

55. On November 17, 2009, at approximately 10:03 a.m., Lamont Cooper placed a

call to (716) 578-0151 and spoke to Lamishae Jeter and others for approximately 24 minutes.

12
Based on my experience in a previous investigation, where I became aware that debt collection agencies buy and
sell debt portfolios, I believe that this reference to a “WOU account” may refer to a particular debt portfolio being
worked by caller-collectors in Buffalo.
13
Based on my experience and training, I know that it is common in the debt collection industry for each new debt
portfolio to be entered into the computer software system so that the caller-collectors have access to the information
they use to call and collect the debts.

21
Based on their exchange and the exchange Lamont Cooper had with other individuals during this

call, I believe that Jeter was in the Bailey Avenue office during this call. This telephone number

is an active wireless number subscribed to by Lamont Cooper. During the call, Lamont Cooper

asked to speak with a person by the name of “Brian”. Lamont Cooper then questioned Brian

regarding “Tabitha” collecting $13,000. 14 Brian stated they were hoping to have $80,000 in new

money by the end of the month. Lamont Cooper asked Brian about people dragging their feet.

Brian advised that they had gotten rid of “Mike Hawkins” and “Tracy Rim”. Brian said “Donte”

talked about buying a TV to do a raffle for motivation for the end of the month to close real

strong. Brian said that last month, they closed with $104,000 on Team 1 and $120,000 on Team

2. Lamont Cooper then asked for and spoke with two individuals, a person by the name of

“Shamone”, and a person by the name of “Raven” 15 . Lamont Cooper instructed Raven to teach

the system to “Meka” in Charlotte, and give her insight in the “talk-off.” 16

56. On December 8, 2009, at approximately 8:46 a.m., Lamont Cooper placed a call

to (716) 578-0151 and spoke with Lamishae Jeter for approximately 5 minutes. During the

conversation, Lamont Cooper asked Jeter if she called CAC. Jeter told Lamont Cooper that she

had called “Mike” and asked about the charge back, and called Will twice and left a message

about the portfolio, but he had never gotten back to her. Lamont Cooper told Jeter she needed to

get in contact with them because he wanted a payroll report and wanted to know about some

charges.

14
Tabitha is one of the names listed on an employee sheet NYSAG investigators recovered from a dumpster located
behind the CMC offices, at 3060 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, New York, on January 20, 2010.
15
Shamone and Raven are also listed on an employee sheet found in a dumpster located behind the CMC
offices, at 3060 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, New York, on January 20, 2010.
16
Based upon my experience with another debt collection investigation, I know that a "talk-off" refers to
the words used by the caller-collectors when they attempt to obtain payment from the debtors and that the "talk-off"
may be in the form of a written script.

22
 57. On January 4, 2010, at approximately 10:04 a.m., Lamont Cooper placed a call to

(678) 528-7790. This is an active landline number, with no subscriber listed. A male answered

the phone saying, “Greenberg, Stein & Associates.” Lamont Cooper asked to speak with a

person referred to as “Eric.” A segment of the conversation between Lamont Cooper and Eric

involved Eric’s pay structure and how he should be paid. Eric told Lamont Cooper that he would

do whatever Lamont wanted him to do, since his loyalty was to Cooper. Eric told Lamont

Cooper that he was waiting on Cooper to set up an office and wouldn’t move without Cooper.

He further stated that everything is on Cooper’s lead because “[he] has a proven system.”

During the conversation, Eric mentioned that he understood why Lamont Cooper wouldn’t have

Raven come down there. Lamont Cooper said that Raven works for Cooper, Jahaan, and Donte.

Letters

58. I obtained and reviewed letters that Lamont Cooper sent and received from the

Batavia Detention Facility. For example, on February 8, 2010, he wrote to Desmond Cooper:

"Hey Desmond,

Well they really socked it to me. The whole motivation was to end my source of
income....This makes the collection business or buying/selling debt a federal
charge for me.

Anyway, I would like for you to manage my interest. I will not be buying any
portfolios during my incarceration. The last portfolios I’m in on are:

Ownership Remitt Remitt

My HSBC 100% 30% Shepsu 20% Raven Wagstaff LAR

HSBC is an experimental credit card file very expensive, new stuff. I have Raven
working it personally. She will get 20% of all collected, and Shepsu gets 30% of
all collected. The Sprint Telecom you and I split the 30% in half of total
collection.

23
 Global is under heavy scrutiny….

You may want to eliminate as much as possible, CMC’s existence in New York.
The office is leased to CMC as well as the utilities…I trust you will re-organize
the flow of money, more properly from the payment processing. A sit down with
Mishae and y’all should work it out.

The 10$ hr that Shannon is getting from RSA is not enough. She’s been there a
year and is efficient in the data entry. She is considering quitting and moving
back to Buffalo. Expand her duties and give her a raise.

We should update all offices “member services” membership from Collect. Also
update the contact information, allowing each office’s manager to be a contact.
Such as Meka for BNC, Mike for CAC, Jahaan for RSA, Mishae for Global."

59. On February 8, 2010, Lamont Cooper wrote to LaMishae Jeter:

"Mishae

I will need you to really step up your game now. You have done a very good job
so far in my absence. But now you will have to do it without my help.
Everything I do will be carefully monitored. Our only open discussion will have
to take place face to face during visits. However, you will have to monitor every
account and question every debit. Not so much the Shepsu because you and Cee
are the only ones over that. Most attention paid to CAC and One of a Kind,
where as these are solely me….

As far as CAC, always check with them on the numbers and there portfolio needs.
Monitor both bank accounts, and have them explain to you any abnormal debits
discuss with Desmond every time. CAC owes me 25 thousand and I want it back
within the next 3 months.

Collect system, everyone will rely on you as far as your knowledge and the
importing of accounts. If there is any question that you need, you will have to
contact comtech systems 17 “member services.”

Quick note before I forget. Make sure Kelly is backing the system up every week
and storing it off site. This is extremely important. If the building burnt down we
would loose millions in post dates. So make sure this is done weekly.

17
“Collect! Credit and Collection Software” is published by Comtech Systems Inc., of Port Angeles,
Washington. This is the same software system used by a debt collection group in an earlier investigation to manage
its debt portfolios and collection efforts.

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 Once I’m settled in I want you to resume sending me all banking activity. Do it in
two week intervals. And send it the way I instructed you to do it.

Before I forget, I want you to remember that everything that you do is legal. You
are not commiting [sic] any crime. By you not doing anything illegal, there is
nothing for you to get in trouble for. Why am I telling you this? Well the
government has a way with intimidating innocent people into doing thing they not
otherwise do. Scaring them with false with untrue threats. Of course I know
because they shook em up, and tricked me into signing that civil order, for
something that they couldn’t do. I don’t know I’m just thinking ahead. They
really want to nail me to the cross, and they can’t without help from those closes
to me. Anyway, that ever happens, don’t say a word, simply contact Tom 18 .
Exercise your 5th Amendment right; and never tell them anything. No sit down
for questions, no anything. No matter what they say, refuse to talk. If they got
something that you done wrong, present it and you will deal with it. This is
extremely important because they want to prove I’m in contempt of the civil
order, and they want to hit me with a very high fine. Basically they want all my
money. Without any corroboration they can’t prove anything. So absolutely no
discussions, period!"

Class A Misdemeanor pursuant to Penal Law § 210.45.

__________________________________
Dated: July , 2010 Sandra J. Migaj, Special Investigator
City of Buffalo, County of Erie New York State Attorney General’s Office

18
Attorney Thomas Eoannou represented Lamont Cooper at the parole violation matter in Federal Court.

25