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Ardent360 and Ten Stone LLC PATH project scam

1/17/2011

21 Comments

 
Landowners in Jefferson County have been receiving this letter. It's from a company called "Ardent360".  This same group has also been calling themselves "Ten Stone LLC".  The three names of individuals that we have are Rob Dickinson, Mark Krom and Bob Weatherwax.

UPDATE:  A quick investigation by a few astute citizens has clearly revealed this to be a scam.  Read further in the comments section and at The Power Line here, here and here.

We urge you to contact your Attorney General's office (or equivalent) and file a consumer complaint.  Don't sit around and wait for "someone" else to do it.  You are "someone" and only through the collective action of many citizens will quick results happen.  In fact, why isn't PATH filing a complaint of their own?  Not only do the Brobbsey Twins seem to be on the wrong side of state law, they have also inserted themselves into a Federal process by trying to skim off profits for themselves through PATH's Formula Rate cost recovery system.  Ut-oh, Bob & Rob!  Looks like you failed to do your homework and could receive detention!

The Brobbsey Twins probably won't be the last opportunists that smell a tasty morsel to be had by scamming landowners and the power companies.  Only if we make an example of them can we hope to discourage future opportunists.

Signing a deal with these guys is NOT in your best interest.  Put quite simply, they want to steal a portion of your piece of the pie and make money for themselves by inserting themselves into your deal with the power companies.  Ardent360 has invited themselves to a free lunch at your expense.  We urge you to check with an attorney before even speaking with these guys.

They cannot "increase the price you receive".  You can do that yourself by refusing to sign a deal with the power companies and forcing them to take your property via the eminent domain process in the courts.

Just say no to Ardent360.

Now that the important business has been taken care of...

Dear Bob,

Thank you for reminding me of why I continue to do what I do.  It's to protect my friends and neighbors from reprehensible parasites like you.

It is with great restraint that I refrain from detailing my opinion of you personally.  However, I will sum up what I think of your "PATH is going to happen" rhetoric in your letter -- PATH IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!  I know that saying it is furthers your goals, but quit lying to people.  We all know that the PATH project is on shakier ground than ever and is not needed.

You really shouldn't have called attention to yourself, Bob.  Just ask your friends at the power companies what happens to liars who try to take advantage of people they feel are weaker than they are.  Go away, Bob.

Sincerely,

Keryn
21 Comments
Da Hillbilly
1/16/2011 10:21:26 pm

PATH just seems to continue to bring out the parasites and bottom feeders from all directions. This letter is such a SCAM to the property owners! First and foremost PATH IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN! The PATHcos. are in deeper than they could have ever imagined. Frederick County Maryland has already said they aint havin no parts of this STOOOOOPID project, Virginia is tired of fooling with their STOOOPID games and forcing them to proceed with their shady testimony (by the way it's testimony that will never hold up considering Dominion alternatve 1) and as our PSC STAFF have shown here in West Virginia their getting tired of it as well. If PATH had any case at all, they would proceed in all three states with what they have. Instead they continually ask for delays in attempts to cook their books and wear down the opposition. Well PATH the oposition is only getting stronger and your case getting weaker. My suggestion to the parasites (Ardent360) is to find another ball field. You will be exposed for the scam artists you are in due time. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE INHUMANITY THAT GREED CONTINUALLY BREEDS!

Reply
stone sealer link
7/10/2012 10:41:54 pm

Nice blog about the Ardent360 and Ten Stone LLC PATH project.Thanks for the blog post to read.

Reply
?
1/17/2011 03:05:27 am

If this co. is willing to buy up your easement and give you "a good price" then its a giveaway that whoever holds the property when eminent domain happens is the big winner.
SCAM ARTISTS!
Do not believe for a minute that they have either your or the power companys interests in mind. They have there interests to steal from you in mind.

Reply
Pam
1/17/2011 06:56:39 pm

I had the "pleasure" of speaking with Rob Dickinson from Ardent yesterday as we received one of their certified letters which we had to personally go to the post office to sign for, couldn't sign the slip and have the mailman leave it in our box. I asked him how he got our names and address, he said it's public record, you can look at the aerial maps of the proposed PATH route and figure out who will be affected, then they go to the Courthouse to gather other info. This is a collective bargaining position. They need group sof people, 30 to 40, and will negotiate for a better deal. You get a deposit check (never said how much) but you get to keep the check if PATH doesn't go through or if PATH makes you a better offer. They are an investment company. They get an extra 5% over the top so if PATH would offer you $30,000, Ardent offers $40,000, and you end up getting $45,000, then Ardent would get that $5000 above $40,000. I asked him what makes him think PATH will go through. He said look at the numbers, PATH is putting millions of dollars into this, ather eare forces larger than energy companies behind this and purshing for this. His company has done evaluations on this. But then he said he hopes it doesn't go through, go figure. He said they were a registered VA corporation so I will look into that today, the Commonwealth was closed Friday and Monday for holidays. I asked him if they were hired by PATH, he said no and said PATH doesn't want them around because they may negotiate for a higher deal. If they secure an easement over PATH, it goes along with a bundle to settle with PATH. So yes, don't fall for this, sounds like a big scam to me.

Reply
Keryn
1/17/2011 08:57:48 pm

Here's Rob's main problem: All the money paid for the ROWs comes out of the pockets of ratepayers. While I'm not adverse to each landowner getting as much as possible for their property, I am adverse to Rob and Bob getting a chunk of change that comes out of my pocket. They are not affected by PATH, they will not have to live with it. They have nothing invested in individual properties and don't give a crap what happens to the landowners as long as Bob & Rob get a piece of the pie. Look up the definition of opportunist.

A landowner can negotiate a better deal on their own. Bob and Rob are not needed for that purpose. Therefore, Bob & Rob's only purpose is to put money in their own pockets.

If PATH doesn't want them around, then PATH ought to get off their behinds and do something about them. But then again, if Bob & Rob scam a bunch of landowners into selling, PATH will get the ROWS they need. That it's at an inflated cost may not matter, since neither PATH nor Bob & Rob are out any money here. It's just us ratepayers who foot the bill and individual landowners who take the financial hit on their property value.

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Pam
1/17/2011 09:20:14 pm

Went to the SCC's website to look up Ardent 360 and Ardent Ventures to see if they are registered. There are 2 listings for Ardent 360, the first became active on 10/17/2003, and is apparently still in good standing. The second says Ardent 360 LLC (Loudoun Co) and that says fictitious 4/9/10. The lady I spoke with told me the reason it says fictitious is that it's a Doing Business As. Ardent Ventures LLC was automatically cancelled by the commission on 12/31/07 for non payment of fees.

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Keryn
1/17/2011 09:56:24 pm

Bwhahahahahahaaaa! Nice work, Pam!

I think their reputation is speaking for itself!

Reply
Keryn
1/17/2011 10:02:08 pm

Quote: "Ardent Ventures
A residential real estate investment company, Ardent Ventures identifies value properties in Northern Virginia and, through Ardent Construction, converts those properties into a financial return for investors. Ardent Ventures' established network of real estate professionals – including brokers and financers – can handle the entire transaction from acquisition of the property, to renovation or construction, to sale. Ardent Ventures currently seeks value properties and individual investors who have the resources to take advantage of this lucrative market."

http://www.ardenthomes.com/Ardentcompanies.html

Ardent Ventures is the only one of their companies which is in this business. The other Ardent Companies are building contractors (although it looks like they never actually pick up a tool or dirty their hands). So, therefore, their subsidiary that is undertaking this land venture is not a legal company. No big surprise there.

Reply
bh link
1/17/2011 10:02:14 pm

None of the Ardent companies or Ten Stone LLC are registered to do business in WV at the Secretary of State's Office.

Reply
Keryn
1/17/2011 10:05:33 pm

Take Bill's advice on his blog. File a complaint with the WV Attorney General's office (or the Attorney General in your particular state). This clearly appears to be a scam.

Reply
Da Hillbilly
1/17/2011 10:18:06 pm

Once again, WELL DONE ladies. The reputation should be more than enough to speak for themselves. I guess Ardent360 just didn't do the research to find out what kind of "can of worms" they were getting into. Predation and ignorance seems to be S.O.P. for ALL the companies involved.

Reply
Keryn
1/17/2011 10:41:22 pm

Psst.... Bill isn't a lady!

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Warden
1/17/2011 11:07:56 pm

Bob & Rob might want to stock up on cigarettes. They are used as currency.

Reply
bh link
1/18/2011 12:12:26 am

Thanks for digging out the info on Ardent Ventures on their Web site. The description you quoted shows clearly that these dudes are real estate flippers in the collapsed NoVA real estate market. A classic definition of bottom feeders.

This is not a pretty picture.

The old hillbilly can call me anything he wants, as long as he don't call me late for dinner.

Reply
Keryn
1/18/2011 01:10:15 am

Web digging is one of my specialties ;-) Amazing the things one can find. And you don't end up with dirt under your fingernails afterward. (of course, this explains why my gardens look the way they do)

Honestly, the things people put on the web....

Reply
JustMe
1/19/2011 12:02:20 am

I like your advice kn. Here's a story for everyone. Unfortunately for PATH, its not a sweet bedtime tale, its more along the lines of an Aesop lesson. Once upon a time, after the infamous CA rolling blackouts, PG&E (the cool California cousin of mountain child Allegheny) filed for bankruptcy protection. The local Attorney General was very protective of consumers and ratepayers and VERY annoyed by the false and misleading advertising that PG&E had spent loads of money on. (also some misleading asset trickery, but TMI for pleasant stories) So... he sued PG&E under the state Unfair Trade Practices Act. PG&E said "Ha ha, you can't touch us b/c we're in bankruptcy court." Well, unfortunately for the spoiled western child, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said "Oh-no-no, the AG is excersizing its police power on behalf of the consumers." Even the bankruptcy court's disposition of assets could not save the poor blacked out power company from the wrath of the big mean public. The people got their right to go after restitution and an injunction. The lesson that PG&E learned the hard way, is that you can run, but you can't hide money that you earn by spreading lies that cost mucho advertising and lobbying money. So at the risk of offering more free advice to PATH, ya think it might be imprudent to put shareholders on the line for this stuff? Love, JM

Reply
Da Hillbilly
1/19/2011 03:05:28 am

I LLLLLLLove a good story. 'Specially when it has a happy ending.

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Keryn
1/19/2011 08:24:36 am

And a lot of laughs with good friends and a bottle of "Puppeteer" wine! :-) You guys are the best!

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?
1/19/2011 03:55:33 pm

did someone call a wahhhhhhhhhhmbulance?

Reply
Da Hillbilly
1/19/2011 04:10:29 pm

Ditto Keryn, I still maintain there is a silver lining to all this. PATH has brought us all together and created new friendships as well as working relationships with some of the smartest, nicest, like minded individuals. Too bad for them because bringing us together sure seems to be biting them in the butt alot lately. Thanks PATH!

Reply
CHOMP
1/20/2011 09:31:47 am

BEND OVER
HERE IT COMES

Reply



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    About the Author

    Keryn Newman blogs here at StopPATH WV about energy issues, transmission policy, misguided regulation, our greedy energy companies and their corporate spin.
    In 2008, AEP & Allegheny Energy's PATH joint venture used their transmission line routing etch-a-sketch to draw a 765kV line across the street from her house. Oooops! And the rest is history.

    About
    StopPATH Blog

    StopPATH Blog began as a forum for information and opinion about the PATH transmission project.  The PATH project was abandoned in 2012, however, this blog was not.

    StopPATH Blog continues to bring you energy policy news and opinion from a consumer's point of view.  If it's sometimes snarky and oftentimes irreverent, just remember that the truth isn't pretty.  People come here because they want the truth, instead of the usual dreadful lies this industry continues to tell itself.  If you keep reading, I'll keep writing.


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