brandon frere was ceo brandon frere was ceo american he scammed people out of $28 million since the year4. they say frere advertised the student loan forgiveness program. victims paid enrollment and membership fees thinking it would lower monthly payments but american financial did not make any payments on their behalf. >>> police are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a thief. lakeport police released this video. he entered the back of the cafe 6:45 yesterday morning when staff was ready to open. the thief did not look around long before finding an employee's purse in a cabinet. investigators didn't specify what was in the purse. they do say it is a grand theft. >>> investigators are trying to figure out what sparked a fire at a restaurant in the sunset district. flames broke out inside sun maxim's near 22nd avenue just after 2:00 yesterday afternoon. says the san francisco fire department tweeted these from the scene. the fire temporarily displaced three people living inside the apartment above the restaurant. >>> a driver went to the hospital after slamm

the arrest of a financial company executive accused of stealing millions of dollars. 41-year-old brandon frere was trying to board a flight to mexico. he ran several companies including ameritech. he is accused of transferring $9 million and more than 28 million from people thinking they were restructuring their student death. >>> sounds from the planet mars and a teacher caught cutting a student's hair and others run in shock. this story gets more bizarre. >> we are hearing from >> it's a football fan's gender reveal. welcome to the place where people go to learn about their medicare options before they're on medicare. come on in. you're turning 65 soon? yep. and you're retiring at 67? that's the plan! it's also a great time to learn about an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. here's why...medicare part b doesn't pay for everything. this part is up to you. a medicare supplement plan helps pay for some of what medicare doesn't. call unitedhealthcare insurance company or go online for your free decision guide about the only medicare supplemen

brandon frere's attorney told "abc 7 news" he had no comment beyond what he had said at court. during his initial appearance on monday, he said the ceo contacted the ftc in 2016 to make sure what he was doing was legit and got no response from the ftc. if you are somebody that signed up with ameritech financial, we would like the hear from you. you can e-mail me at melanie.woodrow @abc.com or contact me in the newsroom. melanie woodrow, "abc 7 news." >> thank you for the report. >>> flags at the state capital will be flown at half staff to honor william newsom who passed away at his san francisco home. he was a former judge for the state court of appeal. in 2004 william swore in his son gavin as mayor of san francisco, something he would do again when his son was later elected lieutenant governor. william went to st. ignatius with the sons of j. paul getty. he attended the university of san francisco and stanford law school. he worked as a financial adviser for the getty clan. a statement was released reading, justice newsom was a proud, lifelong californian, a public servant o

brandon frere. he scammed people out of $28 million since the year 2014. they say frere advertised the student loan forgiveness program. victims paid enrollmt and membership fees thinking it would lower monthly payments but american financial did not make any payments on their behalf. >>> we are keeping an eye on the stock market this morning. asian markets closed broadly lower today. u.s. stocks plunged not week. u.s. stocks plunged not week. it comes after the arrest of an electroni electronics. she faces extradition to the u.s. there is uncertainty about what this means for the trade talks between the u.s. and china. >>> on the peninsula, this pg&e power pole has finally been released. the pole in pacifica was tagged for removal back in august. months later it was still there. abc 7 news reporter ansar hassan spoke to the relieved residents. >> reporter: it's what residents in pacifica have been complaining about for months. for pg&e to finally remove this tilting power pole. >> it is an early christmas present. it's great. >> reporter: pictures show ju

according to a criminal complaint filed in drort, ceo brandon frere used various companies to operate a fraudulent student loan relief scheme. he targeted student loan recipients struggling to make payments. he advertised student loan payment reduction and forgiveness and offered a document preparation service and financial program. he collected advanced fees of $600 to $800 per victim to submit documents to repayment plans. he also allegedly collected membership fees. in total collecting more than $28 million in four years. victims believed they would make lower monthly payments and that the balance of their loans would be forgiven. but in actuality, ameritek was not making payments on their behalf. many found themselves in greater student loan debt. the office said if he's convicted, any such losses would be part of the restitution sentencing proceedings. frere could face 20 years in prison. melanie woodrow, abc 7 news. >>> thes oscar are looking for a new host. kevin hart stepped down after old tweets resurfaced. the tweets made disparaging remarks about gays and sexuality. yesterd

brandon frere. court documents say he scammed people out of $28 million since the year 2014.hey say frere advertised the student loan forgiveness program. victims paid enrollment and membership fees thinking it would lower monthly payments but would lower monthly payments but american financial did not make any payments on their behalf. >>> we are keeping an eye on the stock market this morning. asian markets closed broadly lower today. u.s. stocks plunged last week. it comes after the arrest of an electronics. she faces extradition to the u.s. there is uncertainty about what this means for the trade talks between the u.s. and china. >>> on the peninsula, this pg&e power pole has finally been released. it is an update to a story we brought you last week. the pole in pacifica was tagged for removal back in august. neighbors were concerned. pg&e inspected it and said it was safe and secure but needed it is what residents in pacifica have been complaining about for months. >> other poles show signs of tilting so they are working to get the lines replaced underground. >>> back-to

brandon frere is facing a criminal wire charge for transferring company money to personal and offshore accounts. his attorney did not respond to a request for comment today, but told "abc 7 news" previously. >> there are issues that will come out as the case goes forward. >> reporter: meantime, they're further in student loan debt before they began paying ameritech financial due to interest that continued to accrue on their loans. the ftc has a list of people and companies they banned from debt relief. we are placing a link to the site on our website, abc7news.com. >> what a predicament for people caught in this. >> hundreds of thousands of people. >> melanie, thank you very much. >>> happening tonight, the mother of a dying boy who had to fight for a chance to see him will arrive at sfo. a two-year-old yemeni boy named abdullah is suffering from a rare brain disease and is on life support at ucf children's hospital in oakland. abdullah and his father have u.s. citizenship so they were able to travel here for treatment. however, his mother's application for a visa was initially denied