Complaint Review: First Lending Fred Lewis Douglas Gray

03/15/05 8:18 pm Tahirah Sumbry (now ex-best friend)called to ask my permission for her to give Ryan Lowe (now ex-best friend's boyfriend at the time) my cell phone number.

8:22 pm Ryan Lowe called me to ask if I was interested in buying a house, fixing it up, and selling it. He informed me that there would be a $20,000.00 profit for me. Ryan asked me for my social security number. I gave it to him.

8:57 pm Ryan stated that I had the credit rating to qualify for a mortgage loan.

03/17/05 10:36 am Ryan asked if I wanted to do the purchase deal of a house with him. I said yes. Ryan said that he would have his mortgage broker, Fred, contact me.

03/23/05 3:21 pm I was contacted by a man I believed to be Fred. Fred stated that Ryan had told him about me and that I needed to meet with him. He told me where the mortgage office was located. Fred set up an appointment to meet with me on 03/24/05 at 6:30pm. He instructed me to bring my Driver's License, Social Security Card, and my most two recent pay stubs. Fred stated that the address to First Lending was 9000 W. Hampton Ave., Suite 404.

03/24/05 4:13 pm Fred called to verify that I was still coming to the appointment.

6:29 pm I called Ryan Lowe and left him a voicemail message because the location of 9000 W. Hampton Ave. was a red brick house and not an office.

6:32 pm Fred called and corrected the address. The real address is 9120 W. Hampton Ave., Suite 104.

6:40 pm I arrived at First Lending. There were two men and one toddler-aged boy present. I asked to speak with Fred. One man stepped forward to introduce himself as Fred. (I later found out that this was not Fred Lewis, but Douglas Gray. Fred Lewis was the other man with the toddler who remained silent.) I brought all of my personal information (copy of Driver's License, Social Security Card, and my most two recent pay stubs). I handed over copies of these items to Fred (Douglas Gray). I signed documents of interest to purchase the house at 2445 N. Palmer Street. Fred (Douglas Gray) wrote down First Lending's fax number. He stated that he needed information on the university I graduated from and a copy of my B.A. diploma. He said he needed this because he could get special rates for me.

03/25/05 11:22 am I faxed information about my B.A. diploma and college information to First Lending LLC.

3:45 pm Fred (Douglas Gray) said he had a money-making plan to get me an instant $5000.00. He could get $20,000 for himself and then pay me back after the closing on the house. All I would have to do is get a loan for him and he would pay me back $20,000.00 once the property at 2445 N. Palmer Street closed. His plan didn't make sense to me. I declined. He told me not to tell Ryan Lowe about what we had just discussed.

03/27/05 10:11 am Fred (Douglas Gray) called to state that he would need copies of my most recent bank statements to verify if I qualified for a better loan and interest rate.

03/28/05 9:05 am I faxed information about my bank accounts and most recent statements to First Lending LLC.

11:42 am Fred (Douglas Gray) called me to instruct me to call Associated Bank and ask to speak with Felicia Smith. I was instructed to tell Felicia Smith that I was referred to her by Barrin.

11:47 am I called Associated Bank and spoke with Felicia Smith. I mentioned to her that I was referred by Barrin. I have my personal information to her. She made notes on my information and said she would get back to me.

12:01 pm I called Fred (Douglas Gray) back to let him know that I had called Associated Bank and spoke with Felicia Smith.

12:21 pm Fred (Douglas Gray) called me back to state that $13,000.00 was needed as a down payment on the house at 2445 N. Palmer Street. I told him I could get the money in two business weeks. He stated that this would not work because we were going to close on the house in one week. He told me he had set up appointments for me at two financial institutions Household Financial Corp and Citifinancial. The purpose of these appointments was to pay him back $13,000.00 for the money he put down on the house already and some money that he borrowed in order to do this in the first place.

12:33 pm I called Ryan Lowe to see if any of this made sense. I left him a voicemail message.

1:20 pm Ryan Lowe called me back to state that I need to do whatever Fred instructs me to do.

1:37 pm to 2:16 pm I called Fred (Douglas Gray) to keep questioning him on the legitimacy of what was going on. He kept telling me that this was how business worked.

4:17 pm Fred (Douglas Gray) called to see if I was still going to follow him out to Household Financial Corp, 8526 W. Brown Deer Road in Brown Deer, WI, in order to go through with signing off for a loan of $6000.00. I told him that I would be out of work shortly.

4:40 pm to 5:45pm Fred Lewis (Douglas Gray) had made an appointment for me to meet with a financial representative at Household Financial Corp. Fred (Douglas Gray) walked with me into the bank. I signed for a loan in the amount of $6000.00. Household Financial gave me a cashier's check for $5950.00. (There was a $50 service fee.) Fred (Douglas Gray) told me to follow him to M&I Bank on Brown Deer Road. We parked our cars in the lot. He got out of his vehicle (black Cadillac Escalade) and got into my vehicle. He told me to drive up to the first window, cash the check from Household Financial, and have a cashier's check made out to Willie Ealy in the amount of $5500.00. Fred (Douglas Gray) insisted the remaining $450.00 (in cash) was owed to him for the money that he put down on the house.

7:20 pm to 7:55 pm Tahirah Sumbry had called to ask me what happened that day during my meeting with Fred Lewis (really Douglas Gray). I told her how I made out a cashier's check to Willie Ealy and was intimidated into turning over $450.00 to Fred Lewis (really Douglas Gray). She called Fred Lewis (really Douglas Gray) at (414) 234-0838 and cursed him out. Ryan Lowe called me to inform me that I really didn't know how business worked. And, if I had any questions, I am to only ask him or Fred Lewis (really Douglas Gray). Fred Lewis (really Douglas Gray) called me also and told me that he didn't like Tahirah and he wishes to never speak to her or have any more contact with her ever again.

03/29/05 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm Fred (Douglas Gray) had made an appointment for me to meet with a financial representative at Citifinancial, located at 7600 W. Capitol Drive in Milwaukee. He did not go into the building with me. (He had another male sitting in the black Cadillac Escalade with him.) I went inside the building and signed for a loan in the amount of $7000.00. Citifinancial gave me a cashier's check for $7000.18. Fred (Douglas Gray) told me to cash the check at a bank and make the checks out to Martha Walker and John Kyles. I went to US Bank and had the cashier's checks made out from the original check that Citifinancial gave me. I handed these cashier's checks over to Fred (Douglas Gray) outside of US Bank (in the parking lot), located at 7500 W. Good Hope Road.

11:08 am to 5:10 pm I called Ryan Lowe and Fred Lewis (really Douglas Gray) various times throughout this time frame to keep re-questioning them on how the house purchase was going and how taking out these loans was supposed to make sense within all of this. They each answered my questions with they have their own people working on the deal and now the deal could take two to three weeks to complete.

03/30/05 2:18 pm I called Associated Bank to speak with Felicia Smith about the status of my loan. She stated that I was not approved for the loan amount and that I would not be able to purchase the house at 2445 N. Palmer Street. I told her that I put $13,000.00 down on the house already and I have a business partner (Ryan Lowe) that is helping me purchase it. Felicia Smith told me to have him call her with his information. She also told me that $13,000.00 had not been put down on the house.

2:38 pm I called Ryan Lowe informing him that I didn't qualify for the home loan. Ryan said that he would have Fred (Douglas Gray) call me back.

2:47 pm Fred (Douglas Gray) told me not to follow up with the bank anymore. He said that he has it under control and that he is taking care of the loan with his people.

3:04 pm to 3:15 pm I called Ryan Lowe and Fred Lewis (really Douglas Gray) various times throughout this time frame to continue to follow-up on the house closing. They each answered my questions with they have their own people working on the deal and everything is almost complete.

04/01/05 to 04/02/05 I called Ryan Lowe and Fred Lewis (really Douglas Gray) during this time to ask more questions in order to get definitive answers on the status of this house closing. They both responded that it is still a work in progress.

04/03/05 to 04/11/05 I called Ryan Lowe and Fred Lewis (really Douglas Gray) during this time. They both informed me they are still working on closing the deal. It is also during this time that I learned that the father of Fred (Douglas Gray) gets shot. Later on, his father supposedly dies.

04/12/05 4:11pm After researching information about First Lending LLC and Fred Lewis on the internet, I decided that I did not want to be a part of the deal anymore. I faxed over information to First Lending LLC stating that I wanted my $13,000.00 back and that I was not interested in closing on this house. I also informed them that I would contact the proper authorities because the situation of how this deal was going sounded suspicious.

4:35 pm Ryan Lowe called me back shortly and he asked why, [I] was threatening people. I told him I was threatening no one, but that this whole situation was peculiar and I wanted out. He told me that was all I ever had to say and the deal was off. Ryan Lowe told me that he would get my $13,000.00 back. He wants me to pay him $4500.00 for the money that he invested in closing on the property at 2445 N. Palmer Street. I told him that I didn't have $4500.00 to pay him. He answered that all he knows, is that somebody better give me my money back. And, he insisted that I owe him this amount for wasting [his] time.

04/13/05 10:17 am I received a private call on my cell phone from the real Fred Lewis. He said that the man who worked with me on this house deal and that I handed money over to is really named Douglas Gray. The real Fred Lewis states the he owes me nothing. He stated that he was present when I came into First Lending on 03/24/05. He was the man in the next room with the toddler-aged boy. He stated that he sometimes lets others impersonate him in order for them to make money and get deals going. He told me I could contact any authorities I wanted to and that he has attorneys to protect him. Fred Lewis said he wasn't guilty of anything. I reminded him that impersonation was fraud and could be prosecuted federally. He said to do whatever I wanted to and good luck.

10:20 am to 10:29 am I called Ryan Lowe to tell him that we had been scammed. I told him that Fred Lewis called me and admitted to letting this other man (Douglas Gray) impersonate him in order to make extra money. Ryan Lowe either kept hanging up on me or getting disconnected. I repeatedly called him back. Ryan Lowe stated to me that he didn't know what I was talking about and that there are not two Fred Lewis' involved in this deal. He insisted I was confused. I told him I was not and that he was getting played. Ryan Lowe responded, You're wrong. Trust me. I'm not getting played by anyone. Ryan Lowe also added that Fred (Douglas Gray) is out of town at his father's funeral. I asked Ryan Lowe what city he was in. Ryan Lowe retorted, I'm not in that man's business like that.

04/15/05 9:35 am Douglas Gray (referring to himself as D) called to inform me that he would pay me my $13,000.00 back in 10 to 12 business days from the date of today. I responded OK and that I'd really appreciate that. We ended the call.

04/19/05 2:30 pm Tahirah Sumbry informed me that she now knows who Douglas Gray is. She said his street nickname is Black. He has owned a series of nightclubs in Milwaukee. Douglas Gray is Bonnie Gray's son. Bonnie Gray is an employee of the same place Tahirah and I work.

2:45 pm I spoke with Bonnie Gray. I wanted to know if she has a son named Douglas L. Gray. She told me that she did and wanted to know why I would ask. I told her that her son conned me out of $13,000.00 by impersonating a real mortgage broker. She said that she knows nothing about her son committing fraud, but she is aware of him selling houses. Bonnie Gray asked me why I would give her son money. I told her that I was sent to him by a friend. I also added that her son calls himself Fred Lewis.

04/22/05 10:19 am I called Douglas Gray to check on the status of him repaying the funds of $13,000.00. He stated that he is getting the money together and [he'll] have it in a week and a half to pay me.

11:36 am Douglas Gray called to apprise me that he would pay [my] money back. He said, You're contacting the Better Business Bureau and folks. You even told my mama. I'm gonna give you your money, you punk-a*s b***h.

11:37 am to 11:38 am Douglas Gray repeatedly called my cell phone number. But, I had handed my cell phone over to Tahirah Sumbry. She swore at him. She also told him not to speak to me like that and not to call until he is ready to pay me.

11:41 am Tahirah Sumbry called Douglas Gray to swear at him again.

04/27/05 5:35 pm Douglas Gray called to advise me that he is nearly complete with acquiring all of the funds he owes me.

05/05/05 9:00 am to 9:01 am I called Douglas Gray to leave him a voicemail message of how I would like to be re-paid. I stated that I would like a cashiers check made payable to me in the amount of $13,000.00. If he wants proof or evidence that it was received by me, I advised Douglas Gray to mail the check by certified mail to my job with its attention to me. He should have the check with special provisions that the payee must show I.D. in order to cash it.

05/06/05 9:17 am I received a call from a private number. The voice was male and the caller seemed to be an African-American. The male caller said, Good morning. The person sounded like Douglas Gray.

9:31 am I called Douglas Gray. I asked him if he had called me earlier in the morning. He responded, No. Douglas Gray stated he would have cashiers checks made payable to Citifinancial and Household Financial in the amount of the original loans. He said that he would talk to me next week to get the exact pay-off amounts. Douglas Gray insisted that he would not pay me my money back directly. He stated, [he] want[s] to make sure things get done right that these loans get paid off so [he won't] have to deal with me ever again.

11:31 am I called Citifinancial (7600 W. Capitol Dr.) and spoke with d**k Bertram (Branch Manager). I inquired about my account information and what Citifinancial does in the event of over-payment. I explained that I would be coming in with someone next week. This individual would have a pre-written cashier's check for a set amount. He said that any over-payment would go to me. I asked if he remembered me and my situation. Mr. Bertram replied, Yes. He then inquired if I knew the name of the man that scammed me. I said, Yes, his name is Douglas Gray. Mr. Bertram said something to someone in the background. Mr. Bertram informed me that Citifinancial has an on-going investigation with Douglas Gray for numerous acts of fraud. He continued to advise me that I would not get my money back because Douglas Gray knows he can't even set foot in the door.

11:57 am I called Household Financial. I asked for my pay-off balance.

Ryan Lowe's business, Always Transportation, P.O. Box 090191, Milwaukee, WI 53209, 414-397-3206

Kerri
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
U.S.A.