Robin Hood Ordered
to Stop Viatical Business
July 30, 2003 :
After several years of operating illegally in Florida the Robin Hood Group,
Inc., of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was ordered to immediately cease all
viatical activities.
The order was issued by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, which
named nine affiliated entities or persons including Fewkes Management, of
Jupiter, Florida, to cease any and all viatical insurance operations in and
from Florida.
According to the Office of Insurance Regulation the Robin Hood Group, Inc.
and its affiliates continued to transact business without a Certificate of
Authorization, although the company was twice denied a license to conduct
viatical business.
In 1997 under the company's former name, Robin Hood International Ltd, Inc.,
an application for a license to engage in the viatical settlement business was
denied by the state agency formerly known as the Florida Department of
Insurance.
In September 2002, after an investigation by the Florida Department of
Financial Services, Bureau of Investigations, Robin Hood Group, Inc. was again
denied licensure. This time the denial was based on findings that the company
was performing the functions of a viatical settlement provider despite having
previously been denied a license. Robin Hood Group did not contest the findings
and continued to operate a website to solicit business.
"This group has shown a total disregard for the laws of our state," said
Kevin McCarty, Director of the Office of Insurance Regulation. "I consider them
to be a danger to the public welfare and in addition to shutting down their
operations, I will forward this matter to the appropriate prosecutorial
jurisdiction."
McCarty's order also demanded Robin Hood Group, Inc. produce a full listing
of all customers, business contacts and investors and that written notice be
provided to the listed parties informing them of the cessation of its Florida
business. Further, Robin Hood Group, Inc. must fulfill all outstanding
contractual obligations on a timely basis.
Entities and affiliates listed in the order to cease and desist:
Robin Hood International, Ltd, Inc , of Palm Beach Gardens, FL
and Wauconda, IL
Robin Hood Group, Inc. and Jeannie B. Cook of Juno Beach, FL
Kristan J. Fewkes, Michael Fewkes, and Fewkes Management Corporation of
Juno Beach, FL
Corey Lama of Juno Beach, FL
Cornerstone Escrow Corporation of Colorado Springs, Colorado
