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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2017)
Appeal Tribune Wednesday, December 20, 2017 3B Oregon fines Florida woman over park scam JONATHAN BACH SALEM STATESMAN JOURNAL USA TODAY NETWORK The state consumer protection agen- cy is fining a Florida woman and her company $60,000 for violating Oregon securities law, duping at least one Ore- gon victim into investing in an imaginary San Diego amusement park. The Oregon Department of Consum- er and Business Services said Thursday it issued a cease-and-desist order against Judith Jackson, owner of Becker, Jack- son and Reed. The company "used high-pressure sales" to get more than $1 million from people around the U.S., officials said. An Oregon victim gave $150,000 to the com- pany. Becker, Jackson and Reed illegally sold shares in Alpine Family Entertain- ment Parks, a company supposedly de- veloping a California amusement park. "There were no plans to develop an amusement park," officials said. Instead, 80 percent of the money was funneled to bank accounts in Mexico and the rest was used to keep up the scam. Officials allege Jackson is still trying to get people to invest. Attempts by the Statesman Journal to contact Becker, Jackson and Reed by phone numbers listed on what appears to be its website were met with an automat- ed message: "The number you have di- aled is not in service." The website claims, "Becker Jackson & Reed is a leading alternative invest- ment manager that provides investment products to individual and institutional investors through publicly registered programs, private funds and separately managed accounts." "With more than 30 years of experi- ence in the alternative asset manage- ment industry, Becker Jackson & Reed and its affiliates have managed invest- ments for more than 63,000 investors and made more than $4.5 billion in total investments." The website says company headquar- ters are in Seattle, Washington, and Or- lando, Florida. Jean Straight, acting director of the Blaze Continued from Page 2B movement as Santa Ana winds swirled through the canyons. Dean said he ex- pected the winds to change by nightfall. If they see embers travel down the mountain range and toward vacant homes, Salem Fire will alert the strike team leader. Four helicopters hovered above the mountains, dropping water on the blaz- ing hillside. "All we hear is helicopters and birds," Dean said. He doesn't like coffee, but his col- leagues may sip on instant coffee or caf- feinated soda through the night. On Thursday, Salem Fire will pack up their base camp at the Ventura County Fair- grounds and re-establish it in Santa Bar- bara roughly 27 miles away. Keizer Fire officials couldn't share details of their tactical assignments, but consumer protection agency, said in a statement, "Do your homework before making investment decisions, no matter how urgent the opportunity seems." "One of your first steps should be checking the license of any company of- fering investments to Oregon residents," Straight said. Signs an investment may be too good to be true include: » "High rate of return, especially bet- ter than similar investments" » "Guarantee that investment will not fail" » "Pressure to invest immediately" Separately, Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday announced a new director for the Department of Consumer and Business Services after its former head, Patrick Allen, left to become head of the Oregon Health Authority. Cameron Smith takes the helm at the consumer protection agency after lead- ing the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs since 2013. Smith, a former U.S. Marine Corps captain, worked as a sen- ior policy adviser to former Govs. John Kitzhaber and Ted Kulongoski. "Cameron is a strong leader who has spent his career focused on protecting the well-being of others,” Brown said in a statement. Smith called serving veterans and working with the other officials at the veterans' affairs department "a privilege and honor." Replacing him at the veterans' affairs department is Sheronne Blasi, a former Salem City Council member and current Salem-Keizer School Board member. Blasi works as the assistant director of Statewide Veteran Services at the vet- erans' affairs department. She worked for a decade and a half in the audits divi- sion of the Oregon Secretary of State's Office and served 14 years in the U.S. Na- vy. “With her experience helping state agencies achieve on their mission and her commitment to building community partnerships, Sheronne will continue to strengthen veteran services statewide to ensure our veterans’ health, education and economic opportunity," Brown said. Blasi is poised to become the depart- ment's first female leader. "I am honored to continue building upon our work and the trust placed in me by Governor Brown, the (veterans' af- fairs department) team and the veteran community in Oregon," she said in a statement. The governor's office says the Oregon 12 MONTH SPECIAL OFFER Subscribe for about 99 VISIT StatesmanJournal.com/PPC CALL 1-800-452-2511 *Offer expires 3/31/2018. Certain restrictions apply. For complete details, Call or visit website. Price per week is based on a full access subscription including Sunday and Wednesday print delivery at $4.30 per month for the first 12 months. P-PC ENT5211 '#,& /#+& "- #! VLOYHUWRQDSSHDOFRP +&" & #& /#+& ".* , JOBS.STATESMANJOURNAL.COM PER WEEK! * LOCK IN THIS SPECIAL RATE! ¢ BILLED MONTHLY Captain Pittis said his crew is currently just south of Santa Barbara. His team of three firefighters assist- ed with mopping up efforts and property assessments in Ojai along with crews from Salem Fire, Marion County Fire, Woodburn Fire and Silverton Fire. It's the second time Keizer Fire has sent firefighters to a California fire this year, the first being a part of the Oregon response to fires in Napa and Sonoma counties. A Keizer Fire Facebook post said the crew is in good spirits and "hap- py to be helping where they are so badly needed." On Monday, they assessed neighbor- hoods in Casitas Springs, an unincorpo- rated area in Ventura County. Ojai and Casitas Springs are just under ten miles away from each other. "We're a different crew than Keizer Fire sent to Napa County, but being here is where we're suppose to be," Pittis said. Email Lauren Hernandez at leher- nande@statesmanjournal.com, call 503- 399-6743 or follow on Twitter @Lauren- PorFavor " "- # #& && Senate will consider both appointments in February. Reach staff reporter Jonathan Bach by email at jbach@statesmanjour- nal.com or by phone at 503-399-6714. 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