Caden Concepts the Latest Victim of Alfredo Lavieri “Nothing for Something” Scam!
Announcement From Caden Concepts, LLC Regarding a Formal Complaint Against Alfredo Lavieri, Todd S. Fishman and The Import & Export Group, LLC (Information to date as of November 2010)
From the Principals of Caden Concepts, LLC
For those of you who are not familiar with the history of this matter, Caden Concepts, LLC would like to provide you with the most up-to-date information regarding a formal complaint, filed in July 2010, against The Import & Export Group, LLC, Alfredo Lavieri and Todd. S. Fishman.
Summary of Formal Complaint
In June 2010, Caden Concepts entered into an agreement with The Import & Export Group, LLC, in which Alfredo Lavieri and Todd S. Fishman, principals of The Import & Export Group, agreed to produce goods of 7,000 promotional backpacks for a dated event, for the total sum of $66,500 and with a delivery date of June 10, 2010. This agreement and consent to the terms, as detailed by both parties, are documented by email. There is also mutual agreement on the “in-hands” date requested by Caden Concepts and accepted with a written guarantee by The Import Export Group.
In accordance with this agreement, due to the tight time frame Import & Export Group, LLC demanded payment in full of $66,500.00 (with a guaranteed delivery date) sent via wire to Regions Bank on 6-10-10 at 4:05 PM (EST) from Bank of America. Regions Bank accepted this wire, as confirmed by Bank of America, on the same date. After Todd S. Fishman also confirmed via email a receipt of payment, communication and confirmation regarding the production of the goods and the agreed-upon delivery date of June 10 ceased!
After numerous attempts by Caden Concepts to confirm the delivery date and produced goods, Todd S. Fishman, Alfredo Lavieri and Import & Export Group, LLC failed to deliver the goods, stating the blame was on their factory, who could not complete the order on time. Events would reveal that this is not so!
Due to the failed production order, Caden Concepts continuously requested that their funds be returned immediately, yet money was never returned, nor were finished backpacks ever delivered. Accepting and keeping a wire payment for a contracted job in which the goods are not produced or delivered is considered wire fraud under US government laws and regulations. Beware of this type of deception!
Caden Concepts filed a formal complaint, which The Import & Export Group officially received on August 9, 2010.
Communication
Attached are summaries of communications between Caden Concepts and Alfredo Lavieri. We believe that these communications fully disclose his deceptive business practices and he admits to knowingly committing wire fraud. The original emails are also attached.
Exhibit A: Lavieri Acknowledges He Must Refund Caden Concepts the Money for the Failed Production Job, But Attempts to Get Caden Concepts to Place Additional Orders.
From: Alfredo Lavieri [mailto:alavieri@importandexportgroup.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 11:00 AM
To: Lori Caden
Subject: BETWEEN YOU AND ME I DID NOT CC ANYBODY TO TRY TO SOLVE THIS
Lori,
I’m willing to absorb the entire cost of the materials as long as we move on to the next orders, as I said before I don’t want to loose you as a customer. I can go ahead and give you a credit for the Full amount after we received the new Orders and the balance will be paid after I received the merchandise in our Warehouse in California. Otherwise I will ask my accounting department to deduct the full amount of the expenses and send you a wire transfer for the balance and be done with this transaction.
Our Full Complaint
Below is the information about the cost of the materials:
The cost of the Materials in this order $ 28,788.00 + Labor for cutting the fabrics $ 3,123.56 + other expenses
$1,347.34 a total amount of $ 33,258.90 (NOTE: see his answer that claims he spent only 20,000 –his two #’s are not consistent)
Let’s try to solve this matter in a very amicable way there is no need for a legal battle that will end us costing a future and at the end of the day the attorneys are the only ones getting the benefit. I’m the owner of this organization and I’m the one showing my face, Todd Fishman is my VP of sales for the Promotional division.
We are business people and we should solve this in a very good and positive way for both of us. You don’t have to give me an answer today just think about it and please let me know as soon as you can.
Best Regards,
Alfredo Lavieri
Exhibit B: Lavieri Demands an Apology from Caden Concepts In Order to Refund the Money
From: “Allison Schusterman” <allison@schustermanlawfirm.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 08:42:20 -0400
To: <kfink@finksteinberg.com>
ReplyTo: “Allison Schusterman” <allison@schustermanlawfirm.com>
Cc: Alfredo Lavieri<alavieri@importandexportgroup.com>; Steve Schusterman<sdslaw@comporium.net>
Subject:
My client sent me this message this morning and gave me permission to forward:
“ALLISON,
I’m willing to refund the money ONLY AFTER SHE DOES A PUBLIC APOLOGY LETTER ON EVERY SINGLE NEWSPAPER IN THE USA, RIPOFF REPORT, BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, FBI, LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT, xx (individual requested to remain anonymous) AND VENDORS AND CLIENTS.”
Allison Schusterman Paralegal SCHUSTERMAN LAW FIRM, P.A. 541 East Main Street Post Office Box 4211 Rock Hill, South Carolina 29732 (803) 325-7788 Telephone (803) 325-7889 Facsimile
Exhibit C: Lavieri Questions His Camp on How Caden Concepts Got a Copy of the Wire Slip and Admits to Secretly Renting a Beach Home.
From: Alfredo Lavieri <alavieri@importandexportgroup.com> Date: Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 8:32 AM Subject: BILL / LORI CADEN To: <xx (individual requested to remain anonymous)> Cc: Rebecca x <xx (individual requested to remain anonymous)>, Allison Schusterman <allison@schustermanlawfirm.com>, Steve Schusterman <sdslaw@comporium.net>
Bill,
Please read below and check the attachment that Mrs. Caden is sending to everybody that she feels like, at the same time let me ask you a question in reference to the answer provided by you earlier when you said that you never contacted her and you never provided her with any information. The only person or organization that have access to the original cashier check after June 30th. 2010, is you ( NOT EVEN THE BANK HAVE ACCESS TO THE ORIGINAL COPY AFTER THEY GAVE ME THE CHECK ON JUNE 30TH, ALL THE BANK HAVE IS A PINK AND YELLOW COPY OF THE CASHIER CHECK) Why Mrs. Caden Have a color copy of the original Cashier check?
One more Question, How the bank Knew that xx (individual requested to remain anonymous) was renting me a Beach House?
Seems to me that Mrs. Caden didn’t keep the secret for very long.
Best Regards,
Alfredo Lavieri
Discovery
The Import Export Group, LLC represented themselves to Caden Concepts as a reputable contractor of outsourced goods and in good standing with the business community. After a Public Record research of the company and its principals, our findings include:
The Import & Export Group, LLC and its principals are named as the owners/management of companies other than The Import & Export Group, LLC, that are in a current state of official Bankruptcy, with vendors remaining unpaid to date. Such companies include:
Tati & Company
Manatee Services
There are current judgments from other companies against Alfredo Lavieri and his various businesses:
The Alison Group vs. Tati & Company: $325,000
Additional judgments against Tati & Company total over $410,000, $14,000, and $17,000 in their respective judgments
A digital search of Alfredo Lavieri has produced similar stories on the website, www.ripoffreport.com.
Alfredo Lavieri has allegedly used funds from his corporate bank account (may be known as co-mingling of funds) to rent a vacation home in Wilmington, North Carolina.
LIKE THEY HAVE DONE TO MANY OTHERS…THEY STOLE $66,500! And did NOT deliver any merchandise – BE AWARE – DON’T FALL INTO THE SAME TRAP AS WE DID
We welcome any questions you may have regarding our dealings with The Import & Expert Group, LLC, Alfredo Lavieri, Todd S. Fishman, and Regions Bank. Furthermore, if you have experienced events similar to ours with the aforementioned companies and their principals, we would welcome your contact as well.
We can be reached at: 323.651.1190