#CFPB #Dean Tucci #FDATR

Dean Tucci's Legal Battle Against CFPB

Background
Dean Tucci, the founder of FDATR, Inc. (Federal Debt and Tax Relief), is entangled in a significant legal battle against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Established as a comprehensive tax preparation and accounting firm, FDATR offered critical services, including document preparation for federal student loan consolidation. From 2014 through 2019, the company employed a diverse workforce of over 100 professionals, including tax attorneys and CPAs, dedicated to helping clients navigate their financial challenges.

CFPB's Allegations
In November 2020, the CFPB took legal action against FDATR, alongside Tucci and business partner Ken Halverson. The bureau accused them of infringing the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), asserting that FDATR functioned illegally as a debt settlement telemarketing company. It alleged that the firm's collection of advance fees violated federal regulations, thus subjecting it to substantial fines.

Halverson's death in 2020 led the CFPB to target Tucci as the only remaining defendant, citing that Halverson's estate could not cover the alleged liabilities. The bureau's motion for summary judgment against Tucci proposed an astonishing penalty exceeding $40 million, claiming widespread client fraud. Yet, despite the gravity of these allegations, the CFPB has not presented any concrete evidence of client fraud or even a single customer complaint within the six years since the case began.

Tucci's Response
Feeling victimized by what he describes as a relentless