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April 18, 2023

Convicted Trio in Access Funding Related Criminal Cases Are Sentenced

by Structured Settlement Watchdog

On April 7, 2023, the Circuit Court of Maryland handed down sentences for three defendants associated with a role in the Access Funding well publicized scam of black lead paint victims in Baltimore City from 2013-2015 that received extensive coverage in the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun and other publicationsas well as this blog. Reform of Maryland structured settlement protection laws followed.

They sought ‘lead paint virgins’ and bought their settlements. It will be hard for victims to get their money back – Baltimore Sun  January 21, 2019

Opinion | Robbing the victims of lead paint poisoning - The Washington Post  August 27, 2015.

In November then Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced the convictions of former Access Funding Chief Operating Officer, Raffi Boghosian, Charles E. Smith Jr,  a lawyer and a now disbarred lawyer, Anuj Sud (who previously convicted for bribery while a liquor commissioner) for headline grabbing theft from 94 victims. Access Funding's training manual referred to its targets as "lead paint virgins" in a training manual uncovered by the Consumer Financial Protection Board  (CFPB).

Boghosian, Smith and Sud were each found guilty of Theft Scheme Over $100,000 and Conspiracy to Commit Theft Scheme Over $100,000 after a trial in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.

Access Funding's Boghosian and Lawyers Charles E Smith and Anuj Sud Convicted of Theft Scheme - Structured Settlements 4Real® Blog: Structured Settlements | Settlement Planning News and Commentary (typepad.com)

Does The Punishment Fit The Crime?

Raffi Boghosian criminal case Circuit Court of Maryland            121354004

  • Probation by Judgment
  • 4 Years of Supervised Probation
  • 300 Hours of Community Service

Raffi Boghosian is now Executive Vice President of Reliance Funding in Rockville Maryland.

Charles E. Smith, Jr. criminal case Circuit Court of Maryland      121354003

  • Probation by Judgment
  • 4 Years of Supervised Probation
  • 150 Hours of Community Service

As we contemplate the fairness of these sentences, here is my June 27, 2015 blog concerning victim Mary Alice Rose and Mr. Smith's role How Maryland Structured Settlement Protection Act Failed Mary Alice Rose - Structured Settlements 4Real® Blog: Structured Settlements | Settlement Planning News and Commentary (typepad.com)

Anuj Sud criminal case Circuit Court of Maryland                         121354002

  • 3 Year Suspended Sentence
  • 4 Years Supervised Probation
  • 150 Hours of Community Service

Compare the "Access Funding 3" sentences to other structured settlement factoring related crimes

Joey Camacho, now disbarred structured settlement factoring lawyer from Miami who forged 7 Broward County judges signatures multiple times, more than 100 times in all. Sentenced to a year in jail.  CORRECTED: Who Has Time To Wait For Official Signatures? - Camacho Sentenced - Legal Reader

Thomas Rubino, a former paralegal for the formerNew York City personal injury firm  Paris & Chaikin was sentenced to 6 months in jail for more than 234 counts of forgery of judges signatures on 117 legal documents, including structured settlement transfer orders  Paralegal forged names of 76 judges to ‘make work easier’ (nypost.com)

 

Posted at 01:30 PM in Access Funding Scam, Baltimore City Structured Settlements, Chevy Chase Structured Settlements, Maryland Cauldron of Deceit, Maryland Structured Settlements, Structured Settlement Watchdog® |

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  • What Are Structured Settlement Annuities?
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Qualified Settlement Funds

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