Nicholas Prola Nicholas James Prola Consumer Fraud Internet

WARNING: 

The list of fraudsters below may all be part of a consumer scam.  Read the articles below before ever reaching out to them for assistance.  The majority of the key players involved have all been subject to class action lawsuits for consumer fraud and sexual misconduct among other things.  It is widely documented that many of the players involved may have ties to organized crime and have no problem allowing drug use and sexual misconduct to run wild in the workplace.  Dont let them masquerade as consumer advocates when they have proven that all they care about is padding their pocket books!  It seems as though this group of characters have a tendency to change the names of their companies and websites every time they get wrapped up in another law suit so be careful.  Those that were not involved in the initial scams are now aligning themselves with the lowest form of lawyers we have yet to encounter.  It wont be long before many involved and associated lose the ability to practice law for abusing the privilege they have been given in order to chase the unethical dollar.  I have attached just a few articles concerning the primary principles involved including a 2.1 million dollar fine by the IL A.G. and an article concerning sexual misconduct on the part of one Jeffrey Hyslip.  I encourage you to do your own research if what I have included isnt enough for you to think twice about using any of their services. 


WARNING:  Beware of the Attorneys, Companies, and Websites below

Nicholas Prola

Nicholas James Prola

Jeffrey Hyslip

Legalhelpers.com

Fairdebthelpers.com

Legal Debt Helpers Resolution

Macey bankruptcy

Macey bankruptcy law     https://ww3.maceybankruptcylaw.com/crd/

Maceybankruptcylaw.com

233 South Whacker Dr

Chicago, IL 60606

Macey Alleman Hyslip & Searns

www.jacobmeyersbankruptcy.com

Jacob & Meyers

Macy & Alleman


By Gregory Karp

Posted March 2 at 3:56 p.m.

A Chicago-based debt-settlement company used lawyers as a front to illegally collect massive fees from financially struggling consumers who were seeking help, Attorney General Lisa Madigan alleged Wednesday.

Madigan filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the national firm Legal Helpers Debt Resolution, based at 233 S. Wacker Drive in Chicago.

The company, also known as the law firm Macey, Aleman, Hyslip & Searns, charged upfront fees for debt-consolidation services, which became illegal in Illinois last year, the suit alleges.

The Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act forbids debt-settlement companies from charging upfront fees and requires they only collect fees if a consumers debt is actually settled. Attorneys are exempted from the law, allowing them to charge upfront fees.

Legal Helpers illegally charged fees upfront under a guise that attorneys were providing the debt-settlement service to consumers, according to the suit. Madigan said attorneys with Legal Helpers served only as a front to the business that the actual debt-settlement service was contracted out to non-lawyer, third-party companies.

They are essentially a referral source for a scavenger industry seeking to profit from peoples debt problems, Madigan said.

The firm charges non-refundable fees that include a $500 retainer, $49 monthly charge and 15 percent of the total debt, according to the lawsuit.

While the firm promised to make its customers debt free, it never lowered the debt and  often left them worse off financially, the attorney general said.

Jason Searns, general counsel and managing partner with the Legal Helpers, said Wednesday his firm has done nothing wrong and is simply providing an alternative for clients who dont want to declare bankruptcy.

Were a bona fide law firm providing legal services, he said. Our attorneys review every clients file to determine whats appropriate for them.

Searns said Legal Helpers has a different business model than firms that simply rent a lawyer so they can take advantage of the upfront-fee exemption. His firm provides legal counsel to clients and has a strategic alliance with debt-settlement firms to provide debt-management services.

Its all under our supervision and our auditing control, Searns said. When the facts come out, it will show were perfectly fine in what were doing with our clients.

Legal Helpers has a C-minus rating with the Better Business Bureau. At least 1,117 Illinois consumers signed up with Legal Helpers, as of Oct. 1, 2010, the suit says.

Here is the link: http://archive.chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2011/03/illinois-ag-sues-law-firm-for-duping-consumers.html


http://getoutofdebt.org/32351/legal-helpers-debt-resolution-and-jem-group-named-in-ohio-suit

A suit filed in Ohio has just been recently remove to Federal Court. The suit is Theodore Mangosh and Linda Mangosh v. Legal Helpers Debt Resolution, Thomas Macey, Jeffrey Aleman, Jeffrey Hyslip, Jason Searns, JEM Group, Joanne Garneau, and Arthur Garneau.

LAW - "CHICAGO DEBT-SETTLEMENT FIRM TO WIND DOWN BUSINESS"

Ameet Sachdev's Chicago Law today has a long Chicago Tribune story headed "Debt-settlement firm to wind down business: Companies taking advantage of exception for lawyers who provide debt counseling." It begins:

A Chicago-based law firm specializing in consumer debt settlement that was sued by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan plans to wind down its business nationally, its general counsel confirmed Thursday.

Legal Helpers Debt Resolution LLC agreed to refund $2.1 million to its Illinois customers under a settlement announced this month after the attorney general had alleged the company was not living up to its name. Rather than providing legal help, the lawyers were a "front" to collect hefty fees from struggling consumers, Madigan said.

Legal Helpers denied wrongdoing but also agreed to stop accepting more Illinois clients under the settlement.

Jason Searns, the firm's general counsel, said publicity surrounding the lawsuit and settlement has made it hard for Legal Helpers to attract new customers outside Illinois, and the decision was made to cease operations after servicing its existing clients. The company operates help, the lawyers were a "front" to collect hefty fees from struggling consumers, Madigan said.

Legal Helpers denied wrongdoing but also agreed to stop accepting more Illinois clients under the settlement.

Jason Searns, the firm's general counsel, said publicity surrounding the lawsuit and settlement has made it hard for Legal Helpers to attract new customers outside Illinois, and the decision was made to cease operations after servicing its existing clients. The company operates The ILB checked the web to see if Legal Helpers practices in Indiana and received this information from its website.

First, in fine print at the bottom of Legal Helpers' main page, this:

Legal Helpers Debt Resolution, LLC does not practice law in the states of Indiana, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Nebraska, Georgia, Texas or Arizona by that designation. Due to rules governing law firm advertising, all services are provided to residents in the above states through the partnership of Macey Aleman Hyslip & Searns. Any office location mentioned for these states is an office of Macey Aleman Hyslip & Searns.

Then on its "locations" page, I found an East Market Street, Indianapolis location for Legal Helpers.

This March 2, 2011 story from the Chicago Tribune begins:

A Chicago-based debt-settlement company used lawyers as a "front" to illegally collect massive fees from financially struggling consumers who were seeking help, Attorney General Lisa Madigan alleged Wednesday.

Madigan filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the national firm Legal Helpers Debt Resolution, based at 233 S. Wacker Drive.

The company, also known as the law firm Macey, Aleman, Hyslip & Searns, charged upfront fees for debt-consolidation services, which became illegal in Illinois last year, the lawsuit alleges.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 27, 2012 09:25 AM Posted to General Law Related

Here is the link: http://indianalawblog.com/archives/2012/07/law_chicago_deb.html

Sexual Harrassment and Sexual Assualt with the players at Macey & Legal Helpers

Sara Mobley v. Legal Helpers Debt Resolution

In this case which was moved to Federal Court on September 23, 2011,

Mobley files suit against Legal Helpers Debt Resolution, Macy, Aleman,

Hyslip & Searns and Jeffry Hyslip.


This is not the typical LHDR case. Here we have an case involving allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Mobley was an LHDR employee.


The complaint states Sara Mobley began working for Legal Helpers Debt Resolution and Macey, Aleman, Hyslip & Searns in December 2009. Mobley adequately performed her job and in August 2010 Ms. Mobley was sexually harassed by Defendant Jeffrey Hyslip and states that she was subsequently sexually harassed and sexually assaulted by Mark Mancino, and LHDR affiliate.


Mobley allegedly complained to supervisors and she was told she was a big girl and should handle the situation herself.

In addition, Ms. Mobley expressed concerns regarding the criminal activities of some LHDR partners and affiliates, resulting in further retaliation.

When Mobley was hired she was told she would earn approximately $30,000 a month. So Im assuming use must have been a sales representative.

In August 2010, Mobley traveled to Chicago to attend a debt settlement conference at the direction of LHDR. It is at that conference, or more specifically at the hotel bar, where Sara says Jeffrey Hyslip made aggressive sexual advances towards her. Mobley states Hyslip asked her what he could get for $500 or $1,000.

The complaint says Defendant Hyslip advised Ms. Mobley that she should add some worth to the firm and then grabbed her upper thigh, causing a bruise, and tol her that he wanted to f*k her ever since he had seen her that morning.

Later the same evening, Mark Mancino allegedly informed her that she was dangerous and that business and pleasure should not mix but that because they were going to work together for a long time, they were definitely going to mix pleasure into their business relationship.

The complaint states:

Mr. Mancino stated that he was going to bend [Ms. Mobley] over and f*k [her] right there. When Ms. Mobley rejected those advances, Mr. Mancino dragged her across the bar by the upper arm to the entrance of an employees only closet. Mr. Mancinos sexual assault of Ms. Mobley was interrupted by a hotel employee who saw what was happening and intervened. Mr. Mancinos tight grip on Ms. Mobleys upper arm while he dragged her across the room caused a large bruise around her arm.

When Ms. Mobley returned to her office, she reported both of these incidents of unwanted sexual advances to Jason Searns, LHDRs General Counsel and Senior Partner.

Mobley states she email Searns and explained Mr. Hyslips sexual harassment and assault and Mr. Mancinos sexual harassment and sexual assault. Mr. Searns responded by email the same day and stated, I realize Mancino is a hound when he drinks, but you are a big girl. You either play it like one of the boys and ignore then, or tell them what they say or attempt to do is inappropriate.

The complaint says Mobley subsequently emailed Searns photos of the bruises and received an email that said, [a]s a woman, you always have the power to decide what is acceptable. Even if Jeffrey [Hyslip] or Mancino were intoxicated, as Im sure they were, you should contact them privately regarding their behavior and let them know what will happen if the behavior is repeated EVER.


During Ms. Mobleys employment at LHDR and MAHS, she became aware of the criminal associations of some of the people closely associated with, if not employed by, LHDR and MAHS, namely their prior mortgage fraud convictions and ties with organized crime families. Source

Mark Mancino is also named in another Legal Helpers Debt Resolution suit I wrote about recently. In this case Mancino and John Lembo were part of an alleged conspiracy to take income away from another LHDR affiliate, Safeguard, and direct that income to their own company, Nationwide Referral Services aka National Legal Referral Service. You can read more about Mark Mancino here.

As the result of that article, additional information was sent to me by tipster (send in your tips here)s. Allegedly Mancino is a convicted felon. The following official information is available as a result of the securities fraud:

Dft to be imprisoned for 18 months. The court recommends that the dft be designated to an institution in the Miami, Florida Region. Dft is continued in the custody of the U.S. Marsal. Dft shall surrender for service of sentence at the institution des ignated by the bureau of prisons before 2:00 on 12/4/00. Upon release from imprisonment, dft shall be on supervised release for 3 years. The court recommends substance abuse and mental health treatment, at dfts expense. Dft shall pay restitutio n to the victims of the offense of conviction in the amount of $800,000. Dft shall make by 11/27/00 the lump sum of $25,000 payable to the clerk of the court, EDNY. Restitution payment to begin 30 days after release from custody at a rate to be determined by the court and not less than 10% of gross earnings. The rate to be adjusted from time to time by the court in consulation with the probation dept, following full financial disclosure, as required. Dft to pay a special assessmen t of $50.00 to be paid in full immediately.

AMENDED JUDGMENT Dft to be imprisoned for 18 months. The court recommends to the bureau of prisons that dft be designated to a facility in the Miami, Florida region, and invites consideration of a camp assignment. Dft is continued in the custody of the U.S. Marshal.

Dft shall surrender for service of sentence at the institution designated by the bureau of prisons by 3:00 p.m. on 1/8/01. Upon release from imprisonment, dft shall be on supervised release for 3 years. The court recommends substance abuse and mental health treatment, at dfts expense. Dft shall pay a special assessment of $50.00 to be paid in full immediately. Dft shall pay restitution in the amount of $800,000. $25,000 restitution due within 30 days payable to the clerk of court, EDNY. Restitution payment to begin 30 days after release from custody at a rate to be determinated by the court and no less than 10% of gross earnings. The rate to be adj usted from time to time by the court in consultation with the probation dept,
following full financial disclosure as required.

Update

A tipster (send in your tips here) sent me in the link to this other case mentioning Mancino, click here. And that John Lembo and Mark Mancinio had been involved in Bottom Line Leads. Source

here is the link:

http://getoutofdebt.org/31192/legal-helpers-debt-resolution-jeffrey-hyslip-and-mark-mancino-accused-of-sexual-harassment