Active Public Consumer-Related Investigation

The case file cited below relates to a civil -- not a criminal -- investigation. The existence of an investigation does not constitute proof of any violation of law.

Case Number:	L05-3-1040
Subject of investigation:	New Leaf Associates, LLC; Quantum Business Consultants, LLC
Subject's address:	New Leaf, formerly at 6820 Commerce Blvd., Port Richey, FL 34668; Thomas Spiller, d/b/a Quantum Business Consultants, 2795 Kipps Colony Dr., Unit 103, Gulfport, FL; Patterson: 2543 Evershot Drive, New Port Richey, FL 34655
Subject's business:	purportedly, debt elimination
Allegation or issue being investigated: Deceptive practices with regard to alleged debt termination and credit repair program. The subjects claimed to offer a system to eliminate debts, but there was never a viable system. Also, subjects have failed to honor refund policy, falsely claimed to have professional liability insurance approval of the Federal Trade Commission, engaged in false and deceptive representations concerning the effectiveness of their program and the status of OAG's investigation, and failed to comply with federal Credit Repair Organizations Act, including by taking advance fees and not using required contract.
Subject's position:	Patterson/New Leaf claims that problems resulted from operational difficulties and admits that no debts were ever terminated by New Leaf through a program or system as advertised - the only debts satisfied were those for which New Leaf simply wrote checks to pay from fees paid by later clients. Thomas Spiller/Quantum and various other defendants claim they relied upon Patterson/New Leaf. Patterson/New Leaf and Taylor claim to have no money. Defaults have been entered against Patterson, but Patterson has engaged in suspicious transactions. Defaults have been entered against New Leaf, Patterson, Phillip G. Plastic, Manhattan Financial, Richard Spiller, and RWS Consulting
AG unit handling case:	Economic Crimes Division in Tampa, Florida