UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

I OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

 

May 6, 2016

ATTN: 'I?ory Larkins

William Roundtree

Student Loan Consultants of America
(tibia The Center for Student Debt Reform
1755 16th Street South

St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Loom

 

VIA EMAIL AND CERTIFIED MAIL

RE: IMPROPER Use OF US. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SEAL AN
BETWEEN STUDENT LOAN CONSULTANTS OF AMERICA AND THE
US. OF EDUCATION

Dear Sir/Madam:

This letter concerns Student Loan Consultants of America?s (Student Loan Consultants)
unauthorized use of the Of?cial Seal of the US. Department of Education (Seal), and
(ii) misrepresentation of a relationship between the U.S. Department of Education (Department)
and Student Loan Consultants. The Student Loan Censultants? webpage, located at
displays the Department?s Seal without prior written
approval, as required by 34 CPR. 3.4 See Attachment A. In addition to the
unauthorized use, use of the Department?s Seal in this manner implies that the Department is
af?liated with Student Loan Consultants, its website, andt'or its related goods and services. The
Student Loan (Zionsultants'~ use of the Department?s Seal is a violation of federal law, speci?cally
IS U.S.C. 125, which imposes civil liability for false assertions of sponsorship or approval for
commercial activities. The Department is also investigating whether the Student Loan
Consultants? activities violate l3 U.S.C. 1017, which includes a fine andi?or imprisonment for a
period of not more than ?ve (5) years.

 

For the reasons stated above, the Department is requiring that Student Loan Consultants cease
and desist all use of the Department?s Seal. To avoid further confusion, the Department insists
that the following disclaimer be placed on the homepage of the Student Loan Consultants?
website: ?This site is not oj?t?iated with or endorsed by the US. Department of Education. The
content or any information posted on this site does not re?ect the views of the ES. Department of
Education. 

The Department understands that Student Loan Consultants may operate other websites that offer
similar services to the public. To the extent that Student Loan Consultants operates any other
websites that display the Department?s Seal, the Department insists that you cease and desist the
use of the Department?s Sea] on those websites, and that the above-referenced disclaimer also be
placed on those websites.

To avoid further action, please con?rm in writing within ten (10) business days of receipt of this
letter. that you have implemented the requests in the preceding paragraphs. [f we do not receive
your written assurance by that date, the Department will have no choice but to take necessary
steps to protect its rights.

If you have any questions, I can be reached at (202) 401-6000.

Sincerely.

4., xi.- "u ?fps-AH?
?"Tracey Sass/er.
Assistant General Counsel

Division of Business and Administrative Law



cc: ATTN: Tory Larkins
ATTN: William Roundtree
Student Loan Consultants of America
d/b/a The Center for Student Debt Reform
17'55 17th Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712

Scott Bolden, Civil Division
United States Department of Justice