Page 14 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 AG Healey sues Libre by Nexus for preying on vulnerable immigrants and their families A ttorney General Maura Healey recently fi led a lawsuit against Libre by Nexus and its parent company, Nexus Services, alleging that the company preys on immigrants held in federal detention centers by off ering to pay for their immigration bonds to secure their release – while concealing or misrepresenting the true nature and costs of its services. Libre has hundreds of current and former clients in Massachusetts. The lawsuit seeks to put an end to the company’s illegal practices, obtain millions of dollars in restitution for the thousands of victims and impose penalties on the companies. According to the complaint, which was fi led in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Libre markets its services to detainees and their friends and family members who are desperate to secure their loved one’s release. Libre advertises what it calls immigration bond “securitization” services, charging large upfront fees and hefty monthly payments to arrange to have detainees released on bond, and requiring them to wear GPS-tracking devices until the immigration proceeding is resolved. Libre leads consumers to believe that they are taking on a loan and that its services are approved by federal immigration authorities. Consumers later discover that the monthly fees paid to Libre were not credited toward their bond, are nonrefundable and frequently end up being thousands of dollars more than the face value of the bond. Libre actually operates as a middleman between detainees and a bondsman. “Libre has built a business preying on immigrants and their families,” said Healey. “The company seizes moments of desperation, fear, and confusion in order to profi t from detainees with misleading contracts, exorbitant fees, forced GPS tracking, and threats of legal action and deportation. We have taken action with our state and federal partners to put an end to these illegal practices and protect our vulnerable immigrant communities.” Joining Healey in co-fi ling the lawsuit are the attorneys general of New York and Virginia, as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). “Many of these immigrants came to the United States to pursue the American dream. Instead, they got trapped in a fi nancial nightmare,” said CFPB Acting Director David Uejio. “By preying upon immigrants who may speak limited English, Libre targeted and exploited a distinct, diverse, and vulnerable community. The action should serve notice that fi nancial scams targeting communities of color will not be tolerated.” The lawsuit also names Libre’s principals – Michael Donovan, Richard Moore and Evan Ajin – who devised the company’s business model, implemented it, directed its operation and knew the details of its workings. The complaint alleges that the defendants have violated and continue to violate several laws, including the Consumer Protection Act and states’ consumer protection laws. In particular, the complaint alleges: • Libre requires consumers to sign confusing agreements that are frequently written only in English, even though a vast majority of Libre’s clients do not speak, read or understand English. Libre misleads them by misrepresenting the nature, terms and costs of its services. • Libre mischaracterizes its fi - nancial services as a “program” by boasting that it off ers “wraparound services,” including free legal services. In reality, Libre provides nothing more than a referral to lawyers for its clients, who might receive no legal services at all. • To get clients to comply with the company’s agreement and pay its fees, Libre creates the false impression that it has associations with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other government actors. • Libre threatens clients that failing to pay fees will lead to arrest, a return to detention, or deportation. Libre also attempts to collect fees by making false threats to take legal action, sell accounts into collection and report consumers to credit bureaus. • The bulky GPS-tracking devices that Libre has required clients to wear frequently malfunction and interfere with everyday activities and have caused physical injuries. Libre required clients to continue wearing, maintaining and paying for these devices even when it knew they were not functioning or had been deactivated. If you or someone you know in Massachusetts has been a victim of Libre’s unfair and deceptive practices, please call the Civil Rights Hotline at 617963-2917. Baker signs $16B Transportation Bond Bill G overnor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and Acting Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Jamey Tesler recently joined legislators, municipal leaders and other stakeholders in a virtual ceremonial signing of the $16 billion Transportation Bond Bill. This legislation was signed into law on January 15, 2021, and authorizes funding across all modes of transportation to support and facilitate the continual eff orts of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the MBTA to invest in and modernize the Commonwealth’s transportation system. ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ SU20P0931EA Estate of: Date of Death: INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner of a Will has been admitted to informal probate. of has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve on the bond. “The Transportation Bond Bill builds upon our Administration’s ongoing commitment to create a 21st-century mobility infrastructure that will prepare the Commonwealth to capitalize on emerging changes in transportation technology and behavior,” said Baker. “MassDOT and the MBTA have continued to implement widespread improvements throughout the transportation system and this new bond authorization will further support capital investment planning to rebuild, modernize, and expand the capacity of the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure.” “Our Administration continues to work closely with our statewide municipal partners to help identify ways in which they can make further improvements to their transportation infrastructure,” said Polito. “This bill includes authorization for municipally-focused programs, such as the new Municipal Pavement program, which will support the continual eff orts of municipalities to provide connectivity and healthy and safe transportation options for community members.” The legislation includes nearly $5.1 billion to continue modernizing the MBTA, $100 million to improve the pavement condition on state numbered municipal roads and $50 million to ensure municipalities have resources needed to continue efforts to build ‘Complete Streets’ infrastructure to encourage the public to travel more on foot and by bicycle. The bill also includes $70 million for the Municipal Small Bridge Program and expands the use of designated bus lanes and transit signal priority through two new grant programs. Additionally, the bill authorizes the MBTA to use wellestablished procurement methods, such as job order contracting for smaller projects. “The Transportation Bond Bill supports our eff orts to rebuild, modernize, and expand the capacity of the Commonwealth’s transportation system,” said Tesler. “We are grateful to the members of the Legislature and the advocates who worked so hard to get this bill approved.” The bill also responds to the needs of municipal partners by reauthorizing or creating five funding partnerships to supplement and complement the Chapter 90 program, and it reauthorizes the popular Municipal Small Bridge Program and Complete Streets Program. In addition to a local bottleneck reduction program, another municipal funding initiative would improve the condition of roadways by authorizing $100 million for a municipal pavement partnership program to help cities and towns care for state-numbered routes that are locally owned. Highlights of the Transportation Bond Bill are as follows: • $4.4 billion for use as funding for highway federal aid projects • $3 billion for Transit System Modernization Investments (MBTA) • $1.25 billion in non-federal aid for use as funding in highway projects that are not eligible for federal funding • $1.25 billion for the new Next Generation Bridge Program • $70 million for the popular Municipal Small Bridge Program • $50 million for the popular Complete Streets Program • $20 million for “public realm” COVID-19-related Shared Streets and Spaces Program • $100 million for a new Municipal Pavement Program for pavement projects on locally owned but state numbered roads • $100 million in four new programs to provide fi nancial assistance for municipalities seeking to improve infrastructure, such as bus lanes or bus signal prioritization projects, and connectivity • $350 million for the Cape Cod Bridges approaches project • $825 million for South Coast Rail • $595 million for Green Line Extension • $89 million for Aeronautics Division • $760 million to support the Regional Transit Authorities and Rail & Transit’s Mobility Assistance Program and rail improvements • Construction zone speed limits that allow posting of speed limits in construction zones and doubling of speeding fi nes for violations
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