The Federal Bureau of Investigation and securities regulators in California and Pennsylvania are probing a Philadelphia-based loan broker over allegations that more than 100 prospective borrowers lost millions of dollars through a practice in which the firm collected upfront fees for real-estate development but didn't find any funding.
Authorities say they are trying to determine whether Remington Financial Group Inc. and a related firm, BlueStone Real Estate Capital, accepted fees without seriously trying to obtain financing for clients.
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"We have been made aware of the allegations and we are looking into the matter," says Special Agent Jerri Williams in the FBI's Philadelphia division.
California's Department of Corporations is investigating Remington and BlueStone, and also is looking into LandBridge Equity LLC, a land-investment company based in Washington, D.C., according to a person familiar with the matter. Jack Kemp, the former U.S. Housing and Urban Development secretary and vice-presidential candidate, is a senior adviser and director of LandBridge.
Remington is named as a defendant in six civil lawsuits filed in California's Superior Court that allege the company conducted an "advance fee scheme" by collecting nonrefundable fees from would-be borrowers with "no intention of providing the financing." The company has denied the plaintiffs' allegations.
Former San Diego Acting Mayor Ed Struiksma says he paid Remington $25,000 in fees, and received no financing from the company for land he wanted to buy for a housing development. A Toronto developer, Greg Heller, says he paid Remington $20,000 and didn't secure financing for a hotel project in Egypt. Both men say the soured deals cost them much more in penalties and delays.
Andrew Bogdanoff, Remington's founder and chairman, says he isn't familiar with either deal, but that dissatisfied clients could seek arbitration under their agreements with the company.
