Owner Of Payday Lending Enterprise Found Guilty By Jury Of Orchestrating $220 Million Fraudulent Lending Scheme

Press Release Owner Of Payday Lending Enterprise Found Guilty By Jury Of Orchestrating $220 Million Fraudulent Lending Scheme Wednesday, November 15, 2017 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Defendant Extended Predatory Loans to More Than 620,000 Financially Struggling Americans, Including Victims Who Never Sought Them Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RICHARD MOSELEY SR. was found guilty today in Manhattan federal court of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and violating the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) and the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) for operating a payday lending enterprise that systematically evaded state usury laws in order to charge illegally high interest rates, and for issuing payday loans to consumers who never even sought them. MOSELEY was convicted following a two-and-a-half week trial before U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos. Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Richard Moseley Sr.’s predatory loan company exploited more than 600,000 of the most financially vulnerable people in the United States. Charging exorbitant interest, fees, and even signing up some individuals for loans they didn’t authorize, Moseley made it nearly impossible for those already struggling to make ends meet. With today’s conviction, however, Moseley can no longer take advantage of those already on the brink, and he now faces significant time in prison for his predatory ways.” According to the Indictment, other filings in Manhattan federal court, and the evidence presented at trial: Between 2004 and September 2014, MOSELEY owned and operated a group of payday lending businesses (the “Hydra Lenders”) that issued and serviced small, short-term, unsecured loans, known as “payday loans,” through the Internet to customers across the United States. For nearly a decade, MOSELEY systematically exploited more than 620,000 financially struggling working people throughout the United States, many of whom were having trouble paying for basic living expenses. MOSELEY, through the Hydra Lenders, targeted and extended loans to these individuals at illegally high interest rates of more than 700 percent, using deceptive and misleading communications and contracts and in violation of the usury laws of numerous states that were designed to protect residents from such abusive conduct. In furtherance of the scheme, the Hydra Lenders’ loan agreements materially understated the amount the payday loan would cost and the total of payments that would be taken from borrowers’ bank accounts. The loan agreements suggested, for example, that the borrower would pay $30 in interest for $100 borrowed. In truth and in fact, however, MOSELEY structured the repayment schedule of the loans such that, on the borrower’s payday, the Hydra Lenders automatically withdrew the entire interest payment due on the loan, but left the principal balance untouched. As a result, on the borrower’s next payday, the Hydra Lenders could again automatically withdraw an amount equaling the entire interest payment due (and already paid) on the loan. Under MOSELEY’s control and oversight, the Hydra Lenders proceeded automatically to withdraw such “finance charges” payday after payday, applying none of the money toward repayment of principal. Indeed, under the terms of the loan agreement, the Hydra Lenders withdrew finance charges from their customers’ accounts unless and until consumers took affirmative action to stop the automatic renewal of the loan. Through the Hydra Lenders, MOSELEY also extended numerous payday “loans” to victims across the country who did not even want the loans or authorize the issuance of the loans, but instead had merely submitted their personal and bank account information in order to inquire about the possibility of obtaining a payday loan. MOSELEY then automatically withdrew the Hydra Lenders’ usurious “financing fees” directly from the financially struggling victims’ bank accounts on a bi-weekly basis. Although hundreds of victims, over a period of years, lodged complaints that they had never approved or even been aware of the issuance of the loans, the Hydra Lenders, at MOSELEY’s direction, continued to issue loans to consumers without confirming that the consumers in fact wanted the loans that they received or had reviewed and approved the loan terms. Throughout their existence, the Hydra Lenders were the subject of complaints from customers across the country, numerous state regulators, and consumer protection groups, about the Hydra Lenders’ deceptive and misleading practices in issuing usurious and fraudulent loans. Beginning in approximately 2006, in an attempt to avoid civil and criminal liability for his conduct, and to enable the Hydra Lenders to extend usurious loans contrary to state laws, MOSELEY created the sham appearance that the Hydra Lenders were located overseas. MOSELEY nominally incorporated the Hydra Lenders first in Nevis, and later in New Zealand, and claimed that the Hydra Lenders could not be sued or subject to state enforcement actions because they were beyond the jurisdiction of every state in the United States. In truth and in fact, the entirety of MOSELEY’s lending business, including all bank accounts from which loans were originated, all communications with consumers, and all employees, were located at MOSELEY’s corporate office in Kansas City, Missouri. The Hydra Lenders’ purported “offshore” operation consisted of little more than a service that forwarded mail from addresses in Nevis or New Zealand to the Kansas City, Missouri, office. In furtherance of the scheme, MOSELEY falsely told his attorneys that the Hydra Lenders maintained physical offices and employees in Nevis and New Zealand and that the decision whether to extend loans to particular consumers was made by employees of the Hydra Lenders in Nevis and New Zealand. As MOSELEY knew, at no time did the Hydra Lenders have any employees involved in the lending business in Nevis or New Zealand, and at all times the decision whether to underwrite loans was made by employees under MOSELEY’s direction in Kansas City, Missouri. To defeat state complaints and inquiries, MOSELEY directed his attorneys at outside law firms to submit correspondence to state Attorneys General that stated – falsely, unbeknownst to MOSELEY’s attorneys – that the Hydra Lenders originated loans “exclusively” from their offices overseas and had no physical presence anywhere in the United States. In reliance on this materially false and misleading correspondence, many state Attorneys General and regulators closed their investigations on the apparent basis that they lacked jurisdiction over the Hydra Lenders and that the Hydra Lenders had no presence or operations in the United States. From approximately November 2006 through approximately August 2014, the Hydra Lenders generated more than $200 million in revenues. MOSELEY himself made millions of dollars from the scheme, which he spent on, among other things, a vacation home in Mexico, luxury automobiles, and country club membership dues. * * * MOSELEY, 73, of Kansas City, Missouri, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to collect unlawful debts in violation of RICO; one count of collecting unlawful debts in violation of RICO; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. In addition, he was convicted of one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison, and one count of violating TILA, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison. MOSELEY is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ramos on April 27, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Mr. Kim also thanked the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which brought a separate civil action against MOSELEY, for referring the matter and for its assistance. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward A. Imperatore and David Abramowicz are in charge of the prosecution. Updated November 15, 2017 Topic Financial Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 17-366

Press Release Owner Of Payday Lending Enterprise Found Guilty By Jury Of Orchestrating $220 Million Fraudulent Lending Scheme Wednesday, November 15, 2017 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Defendant Extended Predatory Loans to More Than 620,000 Financially Struggling Americans, Including Victims Who Never Sought Them Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RICHARD MOSELEY SR. was found guilty today in Manhattan federal court of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and violating the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) and the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) for operating a payday lending enterprise that systematically evaded state usury laws in order to charge illegally high interest rates, and for issuing payday loans to consumers who never even sought them. MOSELEY was convicted following a two-and-a-half week trial before U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos. Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Richard Moseley Sr.’s predatory loan company exploited more than 600,000 of the most financially vulnerable people in the United States. Charging exorbitant interest, fees, and even signing up some individuals for loans they didn’t authorize, Moseley made it nearly impossible for those already struggling to make ends meet. With today’s conviction, however, Moseley can no longer take advantage of those already on the brink, and he now faces significant time in prison for his predatory ways.” According to the Indictment, other filings in Manhattan federal court, and the evidence presented at trial: Between 2004 and September 2014, MOSELEY owned and operated a group of payday lending businesses (the “Hydra Lenders”) that issued and serviced small, short-term, unsecured loans, known as “payday loans,” through the Internet to customers across the United States. For nearly a decade, MOSELEY systematically exploited more than 620,000 financially struggling working people throughout the United States, many of whom were having trouble paying for basic living expenses. MOSELEY, through the Hydra Lenders, targeted and extended loans to these individuals at illegally high interest rates of more than 700 percent, using deceptive and misleading communications and contracts and in violation of the usury laws of numerous states that were designed to protect residents from such abusive conduct. In furtherance of the scheme, the Hydra Lenders’ loan agreements materially understated the amount the payday loan would cost and the total of payments that would be taken from borrowers’ bank accounts. The loan agreements suggested, for example, that the borrower would pay $30 in interest for $100 borrowed. In truth and in fact, however, MOSELEY structured the repayment schedule of the loans such that, on the borrower’s payday, the Hydra Lenders automatically withdrew the entire interest payment due on the loan, but left the principal balance untouched. As a result, on the borrower’s next payday, the Hydra Lenders could again automatically withdraw an amount equaling the entire interest payment due (and already paid) on the loan. Under MOSELEY’s control and oversight, the Hydra Lenders proceeded automatically to withdraw such “finance charges” payday after payday, applying none of the money toward repayment of principal. Indeed, under the terms of the loan agreement, the Hydra Lenders withdrew finance charges from their customers’ accounts unless and until consumers took affirmative action to stop the automatic renewal of the loan. Through the Hydra Lenders, MOSELEY also extended numerous payday “loans” to victims across the country who did not even want the loans or authorize the issuance of the loans, but instead had merely submitted their personal and bank account information in order to inquire about the possibility of obtaining a payday loan. MOSELEY then automatically withdrew the Hydra Lenders’ usurious “financing fees” directly from the financially struggling victims’ bank accounts on a bi-weekly basis. Although hundreds of victims, over a period of years, lodged complaints that they had never approved or even been aware of the issuance of the loans, the Hydra Lenders, at MOSELEY’s direction, continued to issue loans to consumers without confirming that the consumers in fact wanted the loans that they received or had reviewed and approved the loan terms. Throughout their existence, the Hydra Lenders were the subject of complaints from customers across the country, numerous state regulators, and consumer protection groups, about the Hydra Lenders’ deceptive and misleading practices in issuing usurious and fraudulent loans. Beginning in approximately 2006, in an attempt to avoid civil and criminal liability for his conduct, and to enable the Hydra Lenders to extend usurious loans contrary to state laws, MOSELEY created the sham appearance that the Hydra Lenders were located overseas. MOSELEY nominally incorporated the Hydra Lenders first in Nevis, and later in New Zealand, and claimed that the Hydra Lenders could not be sued or subject to state enforcement actions because they were beyond the jurisdiction of every state in the United States. In truth and in fact, the entirety of MOSELEY’s lending business, including all bank accounts from which loans were originated, all communications with consumers, and all employees, were located at MOSELEY’s corporate office in Kansas City, Missouri. The Hydra Lenders’ purported “offshore” operation consisted of little more than a service that forwarded mail from addresses in Nevis or New Zealand to the Kansas City, Missouri, office. In furtherance of the scheme, MOSELEY falsely told his attorneys that the Hydra Lenders maintained physical offices and employees in Nevis and New Zealand and that the decision whether to extend loans to particular consumers was made by employees of the Hydra Lenders in Nevis and New Zealand. As MOSELEY knew, at no time did the Hydra Lenders have any employees involved in the lending business in Nevis or New Zealand, and at all times the decision whether to underwrite loans was made by employees under MOSELEY’s direction in Kansas City, Missouri. To defeat state complaints and inquiries, MOSELEY directed his attorneys at outside law firms to submit correspondence to state Attorneys General that stated – falsely, unbeknownst to MOSELEY’s attorneys – that the Hydra Lenders originated loans “exclusively” from their offices overseas and had no physical presence anywhere in the United States. In reliance on this materially false and misleading correspondence, many state Attorneys General and regulators closed their investigations on the apparent basis that they lacked jurisdiction over the Hydra Lenders and that the Hydra Lenders had no presence or operations in the United States. From approximately November 2006 through approximately August 2014, the Hydra Lenders generated more than $200 million in revenues. MOSELEY himself made millions of dollars from the scheme, which he spent on, among other things, a vacation home in Mexico, luxury automobiles, and country club membership dues. * * * MOSELEY, 73, of Kansas City, Missouri, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to collect unlawful debts in violation of RICO; one count of collecting unlawful debts in violation of RICO; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. In addition, he was convicted of one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison, and one count of violating TILA, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison. MOSELEY is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ramos on April 27, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Mr. Kim also thanked the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which brought a separate civil action against MOSELEY, for referring the matter and for its assistance. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward A. Imperatore and David Abramowicz are in charge of the prosecution. Updated November 15, 2017 Topic Financial Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 17-366