RIPOFF REPORT VIP ARBITRATION
SUMMARY OF ARBITRATOR DECISION
Smartcomm, L.L.C., Complainant
v.
Author of Ripoff Report #669145
________________________________________________________________________
Complainant has challenged the truthfulness of 9 specific statements posted on ripoffreport.com by the Author of Report #669145, believed to be a former client of Complainant. The Author did not respond to the Complaint filed by Complainant in the time allowed and therefore is not participating in this Arbitration. In accordance with the Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration Rules (the Rules), the Arbitrator will decide whether each of the 9 statements is an opinion or a statement of fact. If, and only if, the statement is determined to be a statement of fact, the Arbitrator will then go further and decide if, by a preponderance of the evidence, the statement is true or not.
In this case, the Arbitrator has only the evidence submitted by Complainant to consider. The evidence submitted includes the Ripoff Report referenced, multiple Witness Statements, and other documents.
Complainant appears to be challenging statements made by Author, who is believed to be a former customer of Complainant.
Any portions of the statements that were deemed to be opinion were not ruled upon by the Arbitrator. The Arbitrator determined that the statements which have been redacted were false. Therefore, according to the Rules, those statements have been redacted.
Decided November 1, 2012
Sandra J. Franklin, Arbitrator
* A copy of the full Arbitrators Decision is available upon request. Please e-mail
[email protected].
________________________________________________________________________
Wireless communications is an incredibly complicated and highly regulated world. Thorough research we learned that Neither SmartComm, or its multi-tiered network of sales people are licensed securities broker/dealers or certified financial advisors. In fact, some of them had such licenses and certifications revoked by the SEC due to prior legal issues involving improper activity.
Smartcomms President, Pendleton Waugh has a trail of public fraud and other legal charges by the FCC and SEC that date back to the early 1990s, including the fact hat he has had his law license revoked in at least three states including Maryland, Georgia and Texas, and was previously convicted of federal charges related to FCC licensing scams, which are outlined below.
In 1993, Waugh came under investigation by federal authorities. As a result of that investigation, Waugh was indicted in 1994 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas on one count of conspiracy to structure financial transactions to evade securities and banking reporting requirements and one count of money laundering, both felonies. Waugh ultimately pled guilty to the first count, and the second count was dismissed. In 1995, as a result of the plea agreement, Waugh was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison, followed by three years of probation, and payment of $20,000 in fines.
In 1997, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia granted the SEC summary judgment against Waugh for violations of various securities regulations. Waugh was ordered to pay the federal government nearly $13 million of illegally acquired funds.
In 1999, Waugh was convicted of securities fraud, a felony, in a case brought by the State of Texas, arising from his failure, in 1993, to disclose to a potential investor that he was under investigation by federal authorities for activities. Waugh was sentenced to four years in state prison, all of which were suspended pending successful completion of probation. He also was ordered to pay $72,000 in restitution and to complete 500 hours of community service.
In 1999, Waugh was determined to have violated the terms of his parole from federal prison and his probation on his state conviction by traveling to Puerto Rico to engage in activities relating to cellular telephone securities. As a result, Waugh was sentenced to six additional months in federal prison and four years in state prison.
We also learned that some SmartComm sales representatives also have histories of revoked SEC licenses and similar penalties for improper investment activities.
(((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration))) (((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration))) (((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration))) This webpage outlines the scam: (((link redacted)))
There are several FCC records on these guys: More from the FCC on Waugh 2009 http://www.fcc.gov/eb/hearings/files/FCC-09M-57.pdf
Here is more Fined by the FFC - http://www.fcc.gov/eb/hearings/files/FCC-09M-51.pdf
http://precomsys.com/documents/PW_Notice_of_Appeal_EB_Action_081209.pdf
Right here he was busted by the state of Maryland, and told he could not operate under Express Communications Inc. 1995
http://www.courts.state.md.us/opinions/cosa/2001/689s00.pdf another bad one 2007 !! The feds were trying to revoke the licences
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-14871.pdf
The Sales Pitch SmartComm's primary sales pitch is that for an investment of $20,000 investors will earn $7,500 to $15,000 per month for life or be able to sell their holdings for a windfall profit. When asked how they can sell such securities without a securities license, the response is that we have been cleared by the SEC that what we are selling is not a security.
(((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration))) (((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration))) Please look out and do not invest money, you can see the government records for yourself.