Request Legal Help Now - Free

Advertisement
LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION

Larry Bates, First American Monetary Consultants Face Fraud Class Action


Jackson, TN: A federal consumer fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against Larry Bates, his company First American Monetary Consultants and several associates, including radio stations, alleging they defraud people, specifically Christians and the elderly, by persuading them to purchase silver and gold coins, and then withhold delivery of the coins.

The lawsuit, filed by Plaintiffs Damian Orlowski of Chicago and Lynn Cechin of Texas, and others similarly situated, states that Bates "targets devout, Christian believers, elderly individuals, and widow/widowers with significant life savings, all who are seeking advice and help from a trusted Christian adviser and/or a Christian financial company."

Named defendants in the lawsuit are Larry Bates, a Democrat who served in the Tennessee General Assembly from 1971 to 1976, dba Radio Information Network, INC/IRN USA Radio News; Information Radio Network/IRN USA Radio News; Information Radio Network Inc.; and Barry Denison, a "senior staff economist" for Bates's First American Monetary Consultants (FAMC), "who travels regularly, advertising for FAMC and speaking on the economy, the threat of Islam, and the question of Israel and the church."

Among the allegatations stated in the lawsuit are claims that Bates promised to move million of dollars in precious metals quickly on their investors' behalf, but after receiving the money delivery of the coins would be delayed by as much as a year. In some cases, orders were allegedly only partially filled.

The lawsuit includes at least 26 other people who allegedly suffered as a result of the defendants actions. The plaintiffs claim that Bates uses his radio show, "News and Views," broadcast via Information Radio Network/IRN USA Radio News, to solicit for a wide range of products, including his books, an FAMC publication called "Monetary and Economic Review," DVDs and videos, and for himself, for personal appearances and speaking engagement at conferences. And, "Multiple methods of media, including, but not limited to, radio, television, books, newsletters, toll free numbers, email, direct mail, and personal solicitation at churches and conferences across the nation are used by Bates and Denison, and other agents of FAMC, Inc. to advertise FAMC Inc., to solicit money from unsuspecting individuals in order to purchase gold, silver and precious metals through defendants ...," the lawsuit alleges.

Orlowski and Cechin are seeking $80 million in actual, treble and punitive damages and injunctive relief on claims of breach of contract, unjust enrichment, fraud, tortious misrepresentation, wrongful trover and conversion, breach of trust and fiduciary duty, tortious conspiracy, and mail and wire fraud.

Larry Bates, First American Monetary Consultants Fraud Class Action Legal Help

If you or a loved one has suffered damages in this case, please click the link below and your complaint will be sent to a lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
Published on Jan-2-12


READER COMMENTS

Posted by

on
It's always the case, these 'religious' yahoo, which the American south's full of, people foolishly believe('he was a x'tian man, so, I believed him...', I've heard that type of hooey a LOT.

The only things one needs to believe and disbelieve;
- Any time one's promised returns of (more than) 15%, is either illegal, and/or a scam. People who've iveseted in such malarkey almost always get an initial first payment, but, that's just for them to 'let it ride', and invest - and lose - more. A LOT more.

- There's a terrific book, by Malcolm Glad well, titled Blink. In a nutshell, the book examines how much that 'gut feeling' we all get, can be trusted. It turns out hthat more than 99% of those 'gut feelings are ACCURATE.

DON'T let ANYONE talk you into 'investing' your hard-earned money in ANY so called 'get rich quick' scam.Keep your money SAFE - WHERE IT IS.

As Judge Judy says,any time someone - even a relative - asks to borrow money,it's almost a certain thing they'll not repay it, and the relationship will end. Instead, she says, she gives them the money (or some of it), and says, 'this is a gift.I DON'T want you to think of paying it back, BUT, KNOW THIS; DON'T ask me again for money.

Posted by

on
I just seen on American Greed the show of the Greed by Dr Larry Bates from FAMC, now in 2003 I bought 10-20Sw. Franc gold coins and 250 1 ozs US Silver Eagles. I still have them . I will admit it took them a month or so to get to me and I did have to keep calling them I do recall. They wanted to house them for me or sell me a safe for 900.00 but I refused that and kept after them to send me my coins. My next questions is what do I really have? I don't know . They look real but what do I really have . I don't know . I paid $2795.00 total for them .

Posted by

on
I purchased gold bullion for my mother back in 2009.
I received the bullion in a couple of shipments through the U.S. Postal Service which were shipped in such a way that they would not raise suspicion to what the packages contained. I received the shipments in timely fashion. However, the last shipment was missing one or more small denomination coins. I notified FAMC and they immediately shipped the missing coins to me. My only thought at the time was that the employee putting the order together failed to check for accuracy of the shipment.
For others that did not receive delivery, I am truly sorry and hope that they are reimbursed.
I do wish to offer other alternatives from my experience as to a possible reason that customers did not receive their shipments.

We have had many letters and packages fail to arrive at our home due to the ineptness of the US Postal Service!
As time goes on, it seems to be getting significantly worse. In fact, I missed receiving a $10,000 check one time from a brokerage firm number of years ago. I also had an item highly valued from a personal sentiment that never arrived though I had the tracking number. It was delivered but to the wrong address. I spent a lot of time corresponding with the post office to no avail.
It is so bad that we have mail miss delivered to another address about a mile away which I go to on a regular basis to retrive. We have sent letters to the US Postal Service and have appeared in person several times which was of no help whatsoever.
What I am saying is that FAMC may be guilty as charged. However, there may be other things at play here whether it be the employees working for FAMC, the US POSTAL SERVICE, or other delivery services that may be employed by them.
Perhaps the US POSTAL SERVICE should be looked into as well.

Posted by

on
I purchased approx. 100,000.00 worth of gold and silver coins around 1992-1995 after hearing his claims to regarding the coming collapse and it being a safe haven. He claimed gold would be the only form of currency worth anything at the collapse and that it was assured to be a safe investment which would make you money. He said the collapse would result in things selling for 50 to 60 cents on the dollar and that money as we know it is just a promissory note worth nothing in reality so when the collapse happened we would be able to buy things with the gold. We did finally get our gold and silver coins but when after holding onto them for three years nothing happened and we needed our cash and no one wanted to take gold coins we asked him if we could sell them back. He said yes probably because he has someone else on the line that he had talked into needing them. He had told us originally gold would also go up in value and when we cashed them in we would make a substantial amount. After three years he said our investment was worth no more than we paid him. We complained and reminded him of his word to us and told him we could have at least made something putting it into a passbook savings and more if in a CD but he stuck to his claim we would get nothing more than we paid him three years prior. Knowing we needed our money back and there was nothing we could do we sold them back to him but he put us off for almost three months with us calling consistently until he finally met us to sell them back and give us our money. Terrible experience we didn't lose our original investment fortunately but we did lose time and interest. Very misleading. I think it was a musical chair shell game. In that, he always has so many coins which he talked someone into buying saying they would make money than after a few years when the person realized they wouldn't they sold them back and he took the money from the new buyers to pay the sellers with him always keeping the profit that's why he put us off in our selling for three months till I suspect he had a buyer and if there were no sellers the buyers didn't get the coins. There were big losers and little losers but everyone but him lost something. Sad! The dishonesty!

ADD YOUR COMMENT ON THIS ISSUE

Please read our comment guidelines before posting.


Note: Your name will be published with your comment.


Your email will only be used if a response is needed.

Are you the defendant or a subject matter expert on this topic with an opposing viewpoint? We'd love to hear your comments here as well, or if you'd like to contact us for an interview please submit your details here.

Request Legal Help Now! - Free