The NACSO v. CFPB lawsuit filed May 21, 2020 has been assigned to Judge Ragg Singhal of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
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Nominated By President Trump
Singhal was nominated by President Donald Trump. The nomination was applauded by Democrats and Republicans and he was confirmed by the US Senate on December 19, 2019 by a vote of 76-17, with seven senators abstaining.
Raag Singhal is a member of the Federalist Society, which espouses conservative legal theories and limited government. Before becoming a judge Singhal was active in the Broward County, Florida Republican Party. Singhal, 57, has been an assistant state attorney, a criminal defense lawyer and a circuit court judge. Singhal was also serial killer Aileen Wuornos’ final appeals lawyer.
NACSO v. CFPB Lawsuit
In the NACSO v. CFPB complaint the NACSO credit repair association alleged the CFPB is unfairly regulating credit repair businesses under the Telemarketing Sales Rule (a regulation that has the force of law), enacted in 1995. According to the lawsuit, those credit repair companies are regulated by the 1996 Credit Repair Organization Act (CROA), which does not mandate a six-month payment delay. Credit Scoop News is working on a full report of the NACSO v. CFPB lawsuit.
Judge Singhal is a very competent and fair jurist. The only connection I could find to credit repair is that Judge Singhal was mentioned on a campaign treasure’s report for then candidate for County Commissioner, Chip LaMarca along with Credit Restoration Consultants, a credit repair company run by William E. Lewis, Jr. That was in 2010 and is not really a connection at all (unless he knows the notorious Mr. Lewis). LaMarca is currently a member of the Florida House of Representatives. Judge Singhal contributed $500 and William E. Lewis’s credit repair company gave LaMarca’s campaign two $500 checks.
Is The Judge Familiar With Credit Repair Co. Owner And Felon?
I only mention this because William E. Lewis, Jr. is such a controversial character in the credit repair industry and Florida GOP politics. I don’t know if the judge knows him personally but I have no doubt he has heard about Lewis’ many run ins with the law.
The Credit Report With Bill Lewis
Credit Restoration Consultants is no longer in business but William E. Lewis, Jr. had a popular consumer credit issues radio show called “Credit Restoration Consultants Hour” and later “The Credit Report with Bill Lewis”on WFTL, WSBR and WWNN. He now appears to offer credit repair services under a new website WilliamLewisDOTus (I didn’t link to his site because all browsers warn it’s an unsafe website).
Long Rap Sheet Including 11 Year Prison Sentence
This all came crashing down when Lewis was arrested on domestic violence charges for allegedly attempting to strangle his wife and it was learned he is a convicted felon with a long rap sheet including an 11 year prison sentence.
From the Tamarac Talk News Website:
Lewis, who holds an associates degree from an online University has a “Money Show” on WSBR AM 740 where he discusses credit issues with caller and frequently uses airtime to promote Republican and Tea party candidates.
Frequent guests of his show include: House Candidate, James Gleason, Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti, Broward Republican Chairman Richard DeNapoli, Republican Party Executive Director Rico Petrocelli, Broward State Attorney Candidate Jim Lewis and Congressional District 22 candidate Adam Hasner. Lewis also had Facebook get-togethers with local politicians at one of his advertisers, Wings Plus of Coral Springs.
Lewis was also the “Voice” of Sheriff Al Lamberti, frequently updating Al Lamberti’s Facebook pages and posting as the Sheriff to unsuspecting friends who believed they were talking to the real Sheriff. According to the SunSentinel, Lamberti said he hadn’t known about his consultant’s past and wouldn’t have hired his company if he had.
According to Eric Linder, Assistant State Attorney, Lewis has a criminal history: In 1988 there were three separate cases where he obtained property with a worthless check on a felony count and grand theft. In 1991 he was charged with a federal crime for conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute and the use of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. His sentence was reduced to 132 months in federal prison or 11 years.
Is The Outlaw An Outlier?
Judge Raag Singhal and William E. Lewis, Jr were involved in the same GOP political circles. NACSO lawyers and credit repair industry players nationwide are praying the good judge doesn’t believe William E. Lewis, Jr. is representative of all credit repair organization owners.
