Attorney General Salazar Files Complaint Against Carlotta Wilson and SSS Nine Organization, Inc., Alleging Misrepresentations Surrounding Grant Applications

Denver-- Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar announced today that his office has filed a lawsuit against Carlotta Wilson, individually and as President of SSS Nine Organization, Inc., alleging they violated the Colorado Consumer Protection Act by making misrepresentations to consumers to whom they offered to provide grant and grant writing assistance. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that Wilson -- who led consumers to believe that she could help them access up to $900 billion in available grants -- made numerous misrepresentations concerning her prior grant writing experience and her prior success in obtaining grants. Wilson is also alleged to have falsely led consumers to believe that their grant awards were imminent.

"Ms. Wilson lied about her background and led consumers to believe that an award of grant money was virtually assured to any person applying for a grant through her organization,” said Attorney General Salazar. “She then falsely led some consumers to believe they were about to receive grants. Some consumers relied on the false hopes created by Ms. Wilson’s misrepresentations to their financial detriment,” Salazar added. Salazar noted that his office had attempted to resolve the issues with Ms. Wilson for several months.

The Attorney General’s office began their investigation of Wilson and her organization after approximately two thousand people lined up outside her office on August 26, 2003 to receive or apply for grant money. Wilson claimed that she would obtain grants for consumers and told consumers that over $900 billion in grant money was available. Consumers have complained that they were led to believe that Wilson had extensive experience, expertise, and prior success in obtaining grant monies. Some consumers complained that Wilson subsequently represented she had received commitments for grant awards and that an award of grant monies was imminent, although no consumers have received any grant monies to date.

The Complaint seeks an injunction and civil penalties.