Platinum Tax Defenders Sad Situation Simi Valley, California

Today, June 1, 2012, I Dustin Wetton, the attorney for Sherri Gastelum and the General Counsel of Platinum Tax Defenders, came across this posting on Rip-off Report. 

I have seen, responded, and advised my client on how to react to similar multiple and common attacks upon her reputation and that of Platinum Tax on various sites such as rip-off report, pissed consumer, and trusted link.  Each of these attacks are not clients, nor prospective clients, and we have not once heard from any of them before filing these false complaints.  Also, none of the attacks have anything to do with the actual actions, services, or work of Platinum Tax Defenders and its employees. 

As her attorney, I have been in contact with the FBI for extortion, I have contacted the Ventura District Attorney for fraud and criminal harassment, and I have contacted the Houston District Attorney to report online bullying and defamation.  I have done this in order to protect my client as best as I can from these online attacks.  While I have done this, the attacks continue, and all of their language is the same:  some insider has information that Sherri Gastelum stole money and they are trying to protect the public from her future attacks.  This is the same language that
her ex-boyfriend and ex-business partner, Scott C., verbally has said to me and my client numerous times.

As part of my due diligence, I followed up with the four reported claims that this person wrote, a complaint I believe to be written by Scott C. or someone closely connected to Scott C..

1) The investigation at the Financial Crimes Unit of Houston, TX case number 065983412-S.  I called and spoke with a Sue who looked up the case for me.  This complaint was filed by Scott C. for theft and forgery.  The claim did not list my client anywhere on it, but instead had listed a Vanessa.  However, as the supposed crime occurred in California, the case has been closed and the offices are no longer looking into it.  Therefore, there is no investigation being done by the Financial Crimes Unit of Houston, TX.

2) The investigation by Bar Harbor Maines Detective Small, who actually is part of the Ellsworth Crime unit, was also looked into.  After speaking with the Detective, a complaint was filed by a Sophia Pod at the request of Scott C. according to the detective.  The claim was that the previous business that Ms. Gastelum and Scott C. owned together had taken her $10,000 without her approval over a year ago and that she just realized the money was gone.  Yet, as this supposed crime occurred in California, this investigation was closed and according to Detective Small, their offices are not investigating Ms. Gastelum whatsoever.

3) The U.S. Attorney office has no record of anything to do with Ms. Gastelum and does not have her name on record anywhere.

4) As far as local authorities go, I have already been in contact with the District Attorney of Ventura about this matter, and there are no records of any investigation by their team.  I called the Ventura County Sherriffs office to learn of any police reports filed or ongoing investigations; they searched for her name and found nothing as well.  I also left a message with the Ventura County East Valley Investigations Unit in regards to this matter explaining a requested call back as we believe there to be false accusations placed against my client as retaliation by Scott C.  Therefore, as of now, there are no records of any investigations being done by local authorities.

In summary, these complaints are the result of actions taken by Scott C. and those that care about him.  They are attempts to hurt my client and her business and hold no validity.  His axe to grind is because of the ending of the business with Ms. Gastelum, her involvement with his parole being revoked, and the end of their romantic relationship.  While there may be anger, emotion, and heartbreak, this is not a soap opera to be voiced online to the masses, but instead one meant for a smaller audience between Ms. Gastelum and Scott C.

Therefore, in closing, in no way are these complaints against Platinum Tax Defenders and Ms. Gastelum true, and the only clarity that they convey is that there is an issue between Ms. Gastelum and Scott C.

If anyone has any questions or comments about this or any of these complaints, please call me at 800-991-6247 to discuss.