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California Attorney General says jewelry store scammed sailors and Marines
Hat tip, WaPo: California jewelers scammed U.S. sailors and Marines with threats from imaginary lawyer
Attorney General says jewelry store scammed sailors and Marines
By Joshua Stewart Contact Reporter
October 3, 2017, 4:00 PM
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Tuesday announced criminal charges against the owners of a Carlsbad jewelry store that he said specifically targeted young sailors and Marines with predatory loans to pay for jewelry.
Becerra said Romano’s Jewelers, a company with stores across the state, and its associated lending company, MBNB Financial Inc., didn’t give service members required documents when they took loans to buy jewelry. He also alleged that the companies used illegal debt collection practices if the military service members fell behind on payments. ... While this case involves a jewelry store, Beccera said his office is also investigating other industries that unscrupulously target service members.
In a Sept. 28 complaint in Los Angeles County, the Attorney General’s Office accused Ramil Abalkhad, the owner of the jewelry store, and his wife, Melina Abalkhad, the owner of the lending company, of illegal financing and debt collection for incidents in 2013 and 2014. One of MBNB’s employees, Ramiro Salinas, was charged with conspiring to engage in unlawful debt collection. Ramil Abalkhad was also charged with check fraud. The three were all arrested last week.
The Abalkhads did not return a message requesting comment, and a lawyer who has previously represented Ramil Abalkhad did not respond to a request for comment. Salinas could not be reached for comment. ... It’s the latest legal trouble for Ramil Abalkhad, the owner of the now-closed Carlsbad jewelry store. In February he was placed on probation after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit identity theft, as well as two other counts of identity theft with the intent to commit fraud. He also had to pay $55,000 in restitution and complete 250 hours of community service.
....
Twitter: @jptstewart
joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1841
Copyright © 2017, The San Diego Union-Tribune
By Joshua Stewart Contact Reporter
October 3, 2017, 4:00 PM
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Tuesday announced criminal charges against the owners of a Carlsbad jewelry store that he said specifically targeted young sailors and Marines with predatory loans to pay for jewelry.
Becerra said Romano’s Jewelers, a company with stores across the state, and its associated lending company, MBNB Financial Inc., didn’t give service members required documents when they took loans to buy jewelry. He also alleged that the companies used illegal debt collection practices if the military service members fell behind on payments. ... While this case involves a jewelry store, Beccera said his office is also investigating other industries that unscrupulously target service members.
In a Sept. 28 complaint in Los Angeles County, the Attorney General’s Office accused Ramil Abalkhad, the owner of the jewelry store, and his wife, Melina Abalkhad, the owner of the lending company, of illegal financing and debt collection for incidents in 2013 and 2014. One of MBNB’s employees, Ramiro Salinas, was charged with conspiring to engage in unlawful debt collection. Ramil Abalkhad was also charged with check fraud. The three were all arrested last week.
The Abalkhads did not return a message requesting comment, and a lawyer who has previously represented Ramil Abalkhad did not respond to a request for comment. Salinas could not be reached for comment. ... It’s the latest legal trouble for Ramil Abalkhad, the owner of the now-closed Carlsbad jewelry store. In February he was placed on probation after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit identity theft, as well as two other counts of identity theft with the intent to commit fraud. He also had to pay $55,000 in restitution and complete 250 hours of community service.
....
Twitter: @jptstewart
joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com
(619) 293-1841
Copyright © 2017, The San Diego Union-Tribune
