The most recent is the popular, Top Dot Mortgage, while less than a year ago, 1st Republic Mortgage Bankers and Lavette M. Bills/MTC Real Estate were in the spotlight.

Two months after Howard F. Pitkin, Banking Commissioner for Connecticut issued a ‘Notice of Intent’ to revoke its license, 1st Republic and its principal Scott Sisskind were slapped with several lawsuits to recover some $16 millions for breach of contract and fraudulent conveyance in violation of New York debtor and creditor laws. The bank was  later forced to cease operation.
In April of 2009, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Field Division, filed fraud charges against the self-styled “foreclosure specialist” and a regular guest on WVIP Radio 93.5 FM, Lavette M. Bills. She was arrested and is now facing several counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, and false statements.

1st Republic, Bills and Top Dot were major sponsor of Linkup programmes on 93.5 FM and were personally endorsed by the owner of Linkup Media, David “Squeeze” Annakie.

During his daily radio programs, Annakie always appealed to his fellow Caribbean and African American audience to do business with the companies as according to him “I have done my research and they are the best.”

An excellent radio communicator with youthful exuberance, Annakie was well paid to promote 1st Republic Mortgage, Bills and more recently Top Dot.

However, these companies from all reports were not the best and are now hurting people. The radio listeners and members of the Caribbean communities are now confused as another “Linkup Radio” endorsed bank is in trouble.

As a shrewd businessman, Annakie appears to be well focus on meeting the needs of his high paying clients, but he needs to be more selective of the companies or individuals he is endorsing.

It is the responsibility of all radio personalities to help protect the listening public from dishonest and corrupt people who use the media to attract innocent customers.

Police found 10 handguns, two assault rifles, nine shotguns and nine rifles in the suspects’ two-story home on West Street. Authorities also found on the premises two Crossman air rifles, one umbrella with a dagger in the handle, one sword, one machete, three daggers and one hunting knife.

Numerous pills, a large amount of ammunition and ingredients for making ammunition were also found on the premises, according to police. Sources said the weapons were not being sold.

The Sianos’ house is directly across the street from P.S. 216, which teaches pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Neighbors said the family had a reputation for drunkenness and for being gun enthusiasts. “It’s outrageous and it’s shocking. Right next to a school, when someone tells you that they find this kind of stuff in a house, especially when you have all these young kids around. They play ball on the streets,” said one local.

“I knew them since they were kids, since they grew up. I knew the mother,” said another. “All I knew was that they used to drink. They drink, that’s all.” “I just don’t think it’s anything, other than they’re just troublemakers,” said a third.

Sources said the father and son seemed to be responsible for the guns.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is suing two non-profits — International Immigrants Foundation and International Professional Association — for allegedly scamming immigrants by making false promises of citizenship and charging exorbitant fees.

The suit also says the organizations are practicing law without authorization.Cuomo says the law protects someone who blows the whistle on immigration scams, but many immigrants are afraid of exposing themselves to prosecution.

“People don’t want to come forward. Well, we have an executive order. I know, technically we have an executive order. People feel — my luck, I’ll be the one, I’ll call, I’ll get into trouble. Because it’s remarkable: years and years, thousands of people victimized. Nobody came forward,” Cuomo said.

Cuomo has obtained a temporary restraining order against the two firms and their president, Edward Juarez, halting their services.

In a statement, the International Immigrants Foundation, says the allegations are quote “outrageous” and were made by Cuomo to “support his political ambitions.”