PDM Express, PDM Logistics, Denise Rankin, Paul D. Mitchell, Paul R. D. Mitchell Ripoff Defrauded employees, vendors, and customers Tustin California
This is a warning to truckers out there, who may get scammed by these people.
Essentially, the scam works like this: They open up shop as either a transportation broker or moter carrier under various names. They run up huge bills, hire drivers and carriers, and pay no one. Once caught, they simply shut down, form another corporation, and then reopen for business as usual until they get caught again. I am a former employee with a judgement against them for $13,631.11, plus 10% interest in unpaid wages (San Bernardino, CA Superior Court case ID SCISS109945)until full payment is made (as of 11/12/2003). That puts the current total near $17,000 or so.
To my knowledge, two other drivers have also obtained judgements against PDM Express, Inc. a bit lower than mine but now probably in excess of $10,000.00 each. Efforts to get the Labor Board to proceed further are useless, since their budget and staffing has been gutted. The Franchise Tax Board, which is supposed to enforce the judgements, has flat out failed to act. The State Secretary, who controls corporations, has similarly refused to act. All have said (despite laws to the contrary) that we drivers must now act on our own to track down a lawyer, locate the assets, strip their corporate shield (fairly easy enough), and then enforce the judgements on our own, with the possible help from whichever local sherriff controls whatever jurisdiction they fled to.
The judgements are good for 10 years, so this is still being persude.
The corporation is or was owned by Paul R. D. Mitchell, Paul D. Mitchell (son), and Denise Rankin-Mitchell (son's wife), as well as Denise's father (name unknown). They have used various corporate identities to perpetuate this fraud over the last few years in various aspects of the transportation industry. While they seem to have disappeared for now, it is believed they may still be in California, or possibly have moved their operations to either Nevada, Arizona, or Colorado.
To my knowledge, they have defrauded several motor carriers, cell and landline phone companies, many fuel card companies, and at least a dozen drivers that I personally am aware of. In addition, several drivers who recieved citations for owner-responsibility items have had our CDL's revoked or suspended as a result of the carriers failure to pay their fines (the driver ends up responsible as a result).
The typical operation for them is as an LTL interstate carrier. They nearly always "factor" the loads immediately after delivery is made, so they can be paid right away and transfer the monies away from the corporation before they are seized. They usually own just one tractor, and lease the rest and the trailers from heavy truck rental companies (the last I know of is TCI Leasing in California). Fuel cards are rarely good for more than a month or two, at which point they revert back to wiring the money for fuel and repairs via Western Union. It is nearly impossible to reach them on weekends, which they usually spent in the Parker, AZ area. They always have a new luxury car or SUV (which eventually gets repossessed), and may own a boat as well.
If anyone has any information on where these people may be found, I would appreciate it if you could let me know. Driver's and others are warned not to work for them in any capacity, as you will not get paid. They left me stranded in Arizona for several days without fuel, food, or money, two of which was during an ice storm. If it weren't for the help of TCI, I never would have been able to get home. These people are ruthless scam artists with a lengthy track record. While the son and daughter in law are amoral and greedy, I believe it is Paul Sr. who is calling the shots and controls every aspect of the scam, making him not just worse, but dangerous as well.
Businesses seeking to work with these people should be aware you will never get paid.
Now that I have found this site, I will try to encourage the other drivers I know to file here as well.
Any lawyers out there willing to help, PLEASE call me or email me ASAP. I may have a location for Paul Sr. in Orange County California. At least one other driver has also asked that you take his case too.
Deborah
Grand Junction, Colorado
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
R. L.
San Bernardino,California,
U.S.A.
PDM EXPRESS, INC. Paul D. Mitchell (owners) & Denise (Rankin) Mitchell. Operating as husband and wife
#5Consumer Comment
Mon, January 28, 2008
Updated information to all collection agencies/individuals tracking PDM Logistics Express. Paul D. Mitchell (owner),spouse Denise R. (Rankin) Mitchell -Born 5-13-65
CDL: C2949218. Father - Earl Dowers, Mother - Rosemary Dowers, 11946 Cherrylee Dr. El Monte, California 91731. DBA: PDM Express, Inc., PDM Logistics, Regarding
California Superior Court, County of San Bernardino, Ca. Case#SCISS109945 Am't 13,631.11* on behalf of Deborah Lipsitz truck driver employed by PDM Express, Inc.
previous address ie; PDM Logistics P.O. Box 3823, Mission Viejo, Ca. 92690. (714)444-0788. ie: 2900 Bristol Suite # 101, Costa Mesa, Ca. ie; PDM Logistics Express 17291 Irvine Blvd. Suite #157, Tustin, Ca. Following address in immediate vicinity of collection agency reported address for above named parties Mitchell & Mitchell, as of this date operating same out of private gated community: 4458 Puerto Del Sol, Camino, Ca. 95709. Further information contact Labor Commissioner, State of Ca. End of report.
Deborah
Grand Junction,Colorado,
U.S.A.
CDL unblocked
#5Author of original report
Fri, May 18, 2007
My CDL was restored a while back (I would have reported sooner, but I've had to work hard to recover from the financial hit I took).
Any help from people in Parker, AZ would be appreciated. I am looking specifically for Paul R. D. Mitchell Sr, who may be residing in your area at this time according to some recent information received. This now appears to be a sort-of base for this family of scam artists, although they may once again be conducting business in Southern or Central California.
Also, this is not the company known as PDM Transportation of Fontana, CA. I understand they have received some flack over PDM Express, but they are a different carrier and not involved in this scam.
Deborah
Grand Junction,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Now my CDL is blocked !!!
#5Author of original report
Mon, November 28, 2005
As if things weren't interesting enough with this employer...
I just received word from the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles that my commercial driving privelages have been suspended indefinitely, pending a lemgthy (2-3 month) medical review. It now appears this employer contacted the DMV and told them I was medically disqualified due to an accident in which I was injured 2 years before I went to work for them.
Needless to say, no medically disqualifying condition existed when I went to work for them, but that didn't stop these scam artists. Any medical issues were resolved several months before I was hired by them. Unfortunately, I must now undergo an extensive, expensive, and time consuming process in order to have my commercial driving privelages restored.
As of this date, the corporate officers for this employer now owe me in excess of $20,000 in back wages, penalties, and interest. I am still trying to resolve the issue of the fines they failed to pay for employer responsible acts, but which the three states involved are coming after me for because I was the driver of the vehicle (mostly permit and inspection issues).
Of course, this begs the question of why California is willing to punish me for the employer's illegal conduct, but refuses outright to take any steps against the employer?
I really need a lawyer, but to date have been unable to locate one because "there isn't enough money in the case to make it worthwhile."
Paul
Anaheim,California,
U.S.A.
Forget lawyers and the legal system. If the state can't collect their money, what chance do you have?
#5Consumer Suggestion
Sat, September 03, 2005
A million dollar judgment against a bankrupt company isn't worth spit. Trust me, the principals running the scam already know all about hiding assets.
This is a prime case for the bone drill. That's the only way I know to convince a fraud to pay me the money they owe me. You need pain. Serious pain, and a whole lot of it. The kind of pain that makes a fraud scream out in horror and forget all about the value of money. Once you administer that kind of pain, they pay up fast. Anything to keep you from drilling a hole in another bone.
Try it on that nasty pit bull that's been attacking the neighborhood school kids. You'll see! One drilling and it'll stay gone for good! Ah yes, chompers limping off into the sunset, dripping blood all the way home. Another problem solved, compliments of the bone drill.
The biggest problem you have is finding this p***k and grabbing him up. These crooks are like vampires. They hide from the light. Coming out only long enough to cheat the next victim.
I'm sorry to hear this happened to you. I was a driver for several years myself, so I know exactly how hard you had to work to earn your money.
Deborah, you always need to be on the defense against this kind of thing. You NEVER let yourself get in the hole for ten grand. The minute the crook didn't put last weeks pay on my comdata, I would have held up a sign. Fuel deal, buck a gallon. In 60 minutes, I would have fueled every Landstar and owner operator needed until I got what was due and money for a bus ticket home. When the card shuts down, the steers and drive tires are next in line. Trust me, I'll get the $500 they owe me for last week.
You never let a company get into you for big money. Don't listen to the excuses. Stop hauling. Sell the fuel to get your money. Then, dump the truck and walk away.
I'll tell you something, I would have sold the Cummings or the Detroit or whatever was there to get my money. Let mr mitchel explain to TCI what happened to their truck.
You know what's going to happen to these people, don't you? Cheating truckers? Yeah, that's real smart. Why don't they just go over to Iraq and piss on the insurgents. They'd stand a better chance of staying in one piece that way.
Spread the word on some of the Class A complaint boards. I'm sure the crooks are running the same exact scam right now as we speak. Sooner or later, somebody will see the names and the similarities and have a valid address for the crooks.