Recidivist Robocaller Settles FTC Telemarketing Complaint

The FTC has obtained a settlement order with Justin Ramsey, the ringleader of telemarketing operations that blasted illegal robocalls to consumers and called phone numbers listed on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry. The order bans Ramsey and his company, Prime Marketing LLC from placing robocalls to individuals to sell goods or services, initiating sales calls to numbers listed on the DNC Registry, and selling data lists containing phone numbers listed on the Registry. This settlement resolves the Federal Trade Commission’s charges against Ramsey.

Ramsey and Prime Marketing also agreed to a $2.2 million civil penalty, which will be suspended upon payment of $65,000. The full judgment will become due if they are later found to have misrepresented their financial condition.

According to the FTC’s January 2017 complaint, in 2012 and 2013 Ramsey and several co-defendants illegally blasted millions of robocalls to consumers and also placed millions of calls to phone numbers listed on the DNC Registry. In just one week in July 2012, the complaint states, the defendants made more than 1.3 million illegal robocalls to consumers nationwide, 80 percent of which were to numbers listed on the DNC Registry.

From 2014 through 2016, Ramsey continued his unlawful telemarketing through his new company, Prime Marketing. Just during April and May of 2016, Ramsey and Prime Marketing initiated at least 800,000 calls to numbers listed on the DNC Registry.

Each of the defendants in the case, except Ramsey and Prime Marketing, settled the Commission’s charges at the same time the agency filed its complaint. If approved by the Court, the settlement with Ramsey and Prime Marketing will resolve all remaining claims in FTC v. Ramsey and conclude the action.

The Commission vote authorizing staff to file the proposed stipulated federal court order settling the charges against Ramsey and Prime Marketing LLC was 2-0. FTC staff filed the proposed order in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

NOTE: Stipulated court orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.

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