THE JANITORIAL AGENCY Employees Named in Racketeering Lawsuit
Employees & associates of The Janitorial Agency are prominently featured in YouTube videos promoting the business opportunities and franchise support of the Lansing, MI-based company.
Now they are also prominently featured in a class-action lawsuit claiming that they and their employer are running an unscrupulous scheme that preys on the hopes and dreams of would-be business owners.
The class-action lawsuit alleges that the defendant’s predatory investment scheme violated both the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and Michigan’s Franchise Investment Law.
The defendants named in the lawsuit are:
THE JANITORIAL AGENCY CORP. (TJAC)
THE JANITORIAL AGENCY FRANCHISE SYSTEMS CORP (TJAFSC)
THE JANITORIAL AGENCY SYSTEMS CORP (TJASC)
STEPHEN CONNOR aka Steve Connor, co-founder, co-owner, and president
CHARLES CAREY aka Dan Carey co-founder, co-owner, and chief executive officer
LINDA SHELL, Administrative Supervisor
STACEY ARMSTRONG-CAREY, VP of franchise development and human resources
LISA WELLS, Web and Creative Designer
LISA HOESL, Executive Marketing Assistant
CAROL DAVIS, Technology Director
BRENT CHAPMAN, Franchise Director
JOE GAUTHIER, National Sales Director
AARON PFAU, Video Coordinator (Video Director)
CHRISTIAN SWANSON, Marketing Executive
DENISE SHATTUCK, Marketing and Account Manager
JAMES SMITH, Marketing Executive
MICHELLE SCHUMACHER, Account Executive
JONATHAN GLASS, Senior Writer, Public Relations
KYLE MAURER, Technology Director
ROSANNA ALDRICH, Marketing Assistant
SUE BOWERS, Training and Consulting Director
TIMOTHY BLACK, Marketing Executive
CALVIN RANDOLPH, Marketing Assistant (Executive Business Consultant)
LOVEDIE PIERRE, Marketing Assistant
JASON VAWTER, Business Consultant
DENNIS KOCSIS, VP of franchise development
BRANDEE LINDNER, Executive Assistant
MEGAN HUNT, Executive Assistant
KEN VAN EVERY, VP of the master franchise program, Operations Director
DAVE HARCUS, Marketing Executive
REGINA HINOJOSA, Executive Marketing Assistant
EVAN GRIFFITHS, Marketing Executive
GABE THEURER, Public Relations
JEFF LORENCEN, Marketing Executive
CALVIN RANDOLPH, Marketing Assistant
LOGAN SCHULTZ, Marketing Assistant
For more information on the allegations of the class-action lawsuit, read THE JANITORIAL AGENCY Franchise Lawsuit Alleges Fraud, Racketeering.
The lawsuit was filed July 10, 2013 in Michigan Western District Court by attorney Jonathan Fortman on behalf unit franchisees Walter Hollins of Michigan, Kemondie Patterson of Virginia, Rosa Pizzo of Florida, and “all others similarly situated in the United States of America whom have purchased a franchise(s) from The Janitorial Agency.”
Among other allegations, the class action lawsuit alleges that The Janitorial Agency, Connor, Carey, their affiliates, associates and employees violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (“RICO”) Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c).
If you believe you are a victim of The Janitorial Agency and would like information on possibly joining the class action suit, contact Fortman Law.
If you are a defendant, franchisee, employee, friend or associate of The Janitorial Agency and think the lawsuit is without merit, your comments are welcome.
The Janitorial Agency has been offered the chance to provide a rebuttal, clarification or other statement for publication on UnhappyFranchisee.Com.
Also read: THE JANITORIAL AGENCY Scam or No Scam?
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE JANITORIAL AGENCY, STEVE CONNER, DAN CAREY OR THE OTHER DEFENDANTS?? WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
DISCLOSURE: The attorney discussed in this post, Jonathan Fortman, participates in our Franchise Attorney Directory.
TAGS: The Janitorial Agency, The Janitorial Agency lawsuit, The Janitorial Agency scam, Steve Conner, Stephen Conner, Steve Connor, Dan Carey, STEPHEN CONNOR, CHARLES CAREY, LINDA SHELL, STACEY ARMSTRONG-CAREY, LISA WELLS, LISA HOESL, CAROL DAVIS, BRENT CHAPMAN, JOE GAUTHIER, AARON PFAU, CHRISTIAN SWANSON, DENISE SHATTUCK, JAMES SMITH, MICHELLE SCHUMACHER, JONATHAN GLASS, KYLE MAURER, ROSANNA ALDRICH, SUE BOWERS, TIMOTHY BLACK, CALVIN RANDOLPH, LOVEDIE PIERRE, JASON VAWTER, DENNIS KOCSIS, BRANDEE LINDNER, MEGAN HUNT, DAVE HARCUS, REGINA HINOJOSA, EVAN GRIFFITHS, GABE THEURER, JEFF LORENCEN, KYLE MAURER, KENNETH VAN EVERY, LOGAN SCHULTZ
I have never in my life had anything like this to happen to me. I’ve heard of this kind of stuff happening to others. They are so wrong for doing this to hard working people who are just trying to make things happen for their families. They even had the nerves to speak about Jesus . I’m very disappointed in this company. I have forgiven them, I do expect them to pay for what they have done. They should be closed and never be able to do business ever! They are rude and try to get out of giving the business they promised. They send you on bogus walk throughs,. There is a JUDGEMENT DAY COMING , and I am reminded that, everyone has to stand before God and give an account of what was , said and done and even our thoughts. TJA, do what’s right and turn yourselves in to the authorities today (10/30/13)
My family and I gave them 20,000.00 dollar to start a franchise. We never once got any help from them once they got their money it was hard to get in contact with them. We tried to get are money back but they wouldn’t hear of it . We are not a rich family and was trying to start a way to for the family to make extra money to help provide money to are young family members for school and training. We thought this sounded good and went for it but never did get any kind of support from this company. All we want is our money back so we can try other sources of business.
@John, Though I am truly sorry about what has happened to YOU and YOUR Family and the suffering that a liar, cheat, thief, con-man aka Steve (Bull) Conner and his brother in-law Dan Carey have done to dozens/hundreds of people…I must ask a simple question? WHY didn’t you “Google” his name, the name of his company, the comments on multiple forums including this one and even on LinkedIn. SEE the Walter Hollins story as told by Ed Selkow and Walter Hollins himself about Steve (Bull) Conner.
Fortman has already filed a lawsuit and has made these atrocities part of the public record in the State of Michigan and technically throughout the U.S.
Again, SORRY for your loss, but in all honesty, YOU should have done better research!
In response to your advice to my son John, please note we did google and look at reviews ahead of time. So note at the time the
reviews we found were favorable. so note that the reviews we found later were bogus and we ate and active plaintiff in this
class action. What you find depends on timing and can be bogus
as we found out later. So suggesting google
may not always produce accurate results.
If they were found guilty…
Why is it that IRS and Treasury
Dept were the only ones paid and
They did not invest a dime and
We the taxpayers invested money we had
Already paid taxes on………
What lawsuit? This has to end. This Lawyer, J. Fornntman, and his staff (paid bloggers) are reporting false claims about the businesses and its members. It seems he would stop pursuing us since his class action lawsuit was dismissed, thrown out and only had one client show up. It tells you that all he wants to do is find ways to make money off people that are successful. He did it to the competitors and won and I guess he and his little-paid assistants are mad that they lost to us. I would think this should be the end of it, but I guess not. At this point, these attacks have become defamation and are based completely on false information. And a lawyer that goes after employees? thousands of clients and how many showed up, one!
Dear Mr. Carey:
Your post is laughable for the blatant misrepresentation of the facts. However, what should one expect from a man who has defrauded hundreds, if not thousands, of people across the country. The lawsuit was only dismissed because you and your partner, Steve Conner, had already squandered the money you made from your scheme and were subject to thousands upon thousands of dollars of liens from the IRS. Why is it that your company suddenly ceased operations as soon as our case was filed only to establish other businesses to continue the web of deception (i.e. Carey & Conner Consulting)? Even though my clients recovered nothing and I received no compensation for the hundreds of hours spent unraveling your web of lies, we all take great satisfaction that we stopped you from defrauding more innocent, hard-working people. Unfortunately, you learned nothing from that experience as I continue to hear from others about your dubious practices. You know that because I have represented some of them. There has been no defamation of you, Mr. Conner, or your business practices. Only the truth.
Jonathan E. Fortman
Attorney at Law
250 St. Catherine Street
Florissant, Missouri 63031
(314) 522-2312
jef@fortmanlaw.com