Las Cruces, N.M. – New Mexico’s Attorney General Raúl Torrez is taking legal action against a Las Cruces-based company, Disabled Veterans Consultants, Inc. (DVC), accusing it of illegally charging veterans for benefits consulting services that should be offered at no cost. The services, which relate to disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), are typically provided for free by federally accredited entities.
The lawsuit, lodged in the Third Judicial District Court, contends that DVC engaged in practices that contravene the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act by purporting to assist veterans without the necessary VA accreditation. The state is pursuing a combination of restitution for the veterans impacted, a complete cessation of DVC’s operations, and civil penalties.
Attorney General Torrez emphasized the gravity of the matter, noting, “Our veterans have sacrificed and fought for our country and deserve to be treated with the utmost respect—not taken advantage of by businesses illegally seeking to make a profit off of their earned benefits.” According to the claims made by the Attorney General’s Office, DVC, together with co-defendants Zeplin Global Group, LLC; MJJL Holdings, LLC; and GTM Bookkeeping, LLC, charged veterans fees for disability claim assistance. Veterans were allegedly directed to make payments to third-party companies rather than DVC directly, further complicating the financial transactions.
Notably, the complaint further accuses DVC of falsely representing its ability to accelerate claims and secure higher disability ratings for veterans. The New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) argues that such claims are deceptive since VA claims must undergo a uniform evaluation process that follows a stringent timeline.
Highlighted within the specific allegations in the lawsuit are claims that DVC charged fees—sometimes a percentage of a veteran’s awarded benefits—for services mandated by law to be free. Furthermore, the company is accused of promoting its capability to expedite or increase benefit awards. The financial transactions implicated were reportedly funneled through affiliated companies based out of state, an action assumed to obscure the financial dealings connected with these charges.
Federal law strictly limits who can assist veterans with benefit claims to only those who are VA-accredited, and prohibits unauthorized charging for such assistance. According to the state’s findings, none of the individuals working with DVC or its affiliates hold VA accreditation.
Through the lawsuit, the Attorney General’s Office seeks several outcomes, including full restitution for veterans who paid for services from DVC, rescission of all contracts between the company and veterans, a comprehensive ban on the company’s operations within New Mexico, civil penalties reaching up to $5,000 per violation, and coverage of the legal and investigative costs incurred during the case.
Veterans who suspect they might have been affected by these practices are urged to reach out to the New Mexico Department of Justice for support and further information.
The case is an extension of ongoing state efforts aimed at safeguarding vulnerable groups, including veterans, from exploitative and deceptive business practices. It aims not only to address alleged wrongdoings but also to reinforce the importance of lawful and ethical treatment of individuals who have served the country.
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