Order Revokes Registration for Empire CSR L.P. Child Support Resources

OR DER NO. 2015-029 IN THE MATTER OF: § BEFORE TH E BANKIN G § EMPIRE CSR, L. P. d/b/a § CHILD SUPPORT RE SOURCE S § (PRIVATE CHIL D SUPPORT § COMMISSIO NER OF TEXAS ENFORCEMENT A GENCY § REGISTRATI ON NO. 22); § § SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS § AUSTIN, T RAVIS COUNTY, TE XAS ORDER TO RE VOKE REGISTRATIO N On this day, the matter of Empire CSR, L.P. d/b/a Child Support Resources, San Antonio, Texas (Respondent or Empire) was submitted to me, Charles G. Cooper, Banking Commissioner (Commissioner) of the State of Texas, for consideration and action. FINDINGS O F FACT 1. Empire holds Registration No. 22 issued by the Texas Department of Ba nking (Department) pursuant to Texas Finance Code (Finance Code) Chapter 396 and operates a private child support enforcement agency (PCSEA) busin ess with headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. 2. On September 18, 2015, the Depa rtment received a cance llation notice for t h e surety bond required for Empire to obtain to hold a PCSEA registration. 3. After it received the cancellation notice, the Department attempte d to get in touch with the l isted co ntact for Empi re, Karen L. M arvel. Ms. Marvel’s phone had been disconnec ted but th e Department was abl e to reach a recepti oni st or assi stan t at another listed number. The woman informed the Department that Ms. Marvel had left the firm and is no l onger involved with Empire. When the Department asked to speak w ith Arthur G. Augustine, the owner of 99% o f Empire, the woman stated that Mr. Augustine died. The Department subsequently confirmed that Mr. Augustine died on June 1, 2015. 4. The woman then provided the c ontact information for an other individual who handled some of Mr. Aug ustine’s business after his passing. The Depart ment h as attempted t o contact that individual severa l times but has received no response. 5. The Department also tried to contact Ms. M arvel at a third number found on the

O rder to Revoke Registratio n Page 2 internet but again received no response. CONCLUSIO NS OF L AW 1. Finance Code Chapter 396 requires a PCSEA to reg ister with the Department a nd maintain a surety bond, among othe r things, to engage in child support enforce ment in Texas. I n its administration of these requirements, the Department ma y revoke a current PCSEA’s registration. 2. Because Empire’s required surety bond ha s lapsed and its owner has died, it has effecti vel y ceas ed to operat e as a pro per PCS EA. Add itionally, th e repeate d attempts by the Department to contact someone associated with Empire have been met with non-responsiveness. 3. Based on the abov e, the Commissioner ha s determined tha t there is sufficient ca use to issue an order to revoke Empire’s private child support enforcement agenc y registration. ORDER Based on the foregoing findings and conclusions in accor dance with Finance Code Chapter 396, it is ORDERED that Empire’s Priv ate Child Support Enf orcement Agency Registra tion No. 22 is hereby REV OKED and Empire is ORDE RED to immediately surre nder said registr ation to the Depart ment and c ease al l activi ties i n the St ate of Texas wh ich requi re a pri vate child support enforcement agency registration pursuant to Finance Code Chapter 396. Any violation b y Empire of this Order to Revoke Registra tion may result in addition al regulatory or enforcement actions authorized b y the Finance Code. Nothing in this Order to Revoke Registration shall be deemed to dimi nish or restrict the regulatory or enforcement pow er of the Department, the Commissioner, the Finance Commission of Texas, or any other state or federal ag ency to take further action in this matter. EF FE CTIVE DATE AND RIGHT TO HEARING This Order to Revoke Reg istration will take effect against Empire on January 8, 2016 (which is the 31st day after the date this proposed Order was mailed to Empire), unless on or before J anuar y 7, 2016 (which is the 30th day after the date this Or der was mailed), Empire requests a hearing in writing.

O rder to Revoke Registratio n Page 3 SERVICE This Orde r to Revoke Registration w ill be serv ed on Empire by first cla ss mail and certified mail, return receipt requested sent on 8th day of December, 2015 to: Empire CSR, L.P. d/b/a Child S upport Resources 3107 Broadway San Antonio, Texas 78209 Empire CSR, L.P. d/b/a Child Support Resources 500 L exington San Antonio, Texas 78215 Karen L. M arvel Karen M arvel Law Offic e 310 S. St. Mary’s St. Suite 920 San Antonio, Texas 78205 Signed on this 8th day of Decemb er, 2015. /s/ S tephani e Newberg Steph anie Newb erg Deputy Commissioner, Texas Department of Banking