REGULATORS SUE ONLINE LENDER CASHCALL: WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators have sued online lender CashCall Inc., its owner and two related companies, accusing them of collecting money that consumers didn't owe.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau alleged in its suit filed Monday that CashCall made loans that violated licensing rules, interest-rate caps or both in at least eight states.
The Anaheim, Calif.-based company disputes the allegations and plans to fight them in court. Through its lawyers, CashCall says the CFPB exceeded its congressional mandate by attempting to cap interest rates.
MAN CHARGED IN BURGLARY SWALLOWS 2 NECKLACES: LARGO, Fla. (AP) — A man faces burglary and tampering charges after an X-ray machine revealed a dark mass near his stomach while he was being booked into jail.
Pinellas County Sheriff's officials say the mass turned out to be two necklaces stolen during a Dec. 10 burglary in Safety Harbor.
Twenty-one-year-old Joseph Ramos was arrested Dec. 11 when he was stopped for driving a vehicle that was stolen during the burglary. Various items from the home were inside the vehicle.
When Ramos was being booked into jail, he stepped on the SecurPass X-ray machine and the dark spot was identified as the necklaces. He underwent surgery to remove them. The owner later identified the items.
DEAL CLOSES ON SALE OF NUGGET IN SPARKS: SPARKS, Nev. (AP) — After spending more than 50 years in the hands of the same family in Sparks, the sale of John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Resort has become official.
The Nugget closed the sale Monday with affiliates of Global Gaming & Hospitality and Husky Finance.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The new owners say they intend to invest up to $50 million in upgrades in the coming months at the casino-hotel with 1,500 guest rooms.
John Ascuaga bought the Nugget in 1960 and has operated it since then along with his daughter, Michonne, and son, Stephen.
GGH co-owner Carlton Geer says they intend to keep the name John Ascuaga's Nugget, at least in the near term.
