Employment company clears out

NORFOLK, Va. - Even more turmoil for a company WAVY News 10 has been investigating for years. On Monday, WAVY.com learned Virginia Employment Services (VES), a.k.a. New Beginnings, and Virginia Personnel had cleaned out and locked their Norfolk office.

Glenn Murphy, a VES customer, was angry to hear the former job-finding company had closed their doors. He told WAVY.com, "I'm mad, I got up early this morning and felt like a fool.... I go there and it's empty like a con game."

Murphy, desperate for work, found himself at Virginia Employment Services on Wednesday.

The same day 10 On Your Side confronted employees outside court after a judge dismissed assault charges.

Murphy was shocked when he saw the story. "I said, 'hey, that's the lady who did my interview,'" he said.

Murphy says VES promised him interviews, but when he showed up for an interview on Friday, employees there had no idea who he was.

Furious, Murphy showed up at VES' office on Monday and discovered his only option, a phone number.

He called and got the same voicemail as 10 On Your Side. Finally someone called Murphy back.

"She said, 'there's a lot going on right now. I'm working from my home,'" explained Murphy.

Murphy unsuccessfully asked for his money back.

"I said, 'well you haven't found me a job yet and you promised me interviews.' She said, 'no we didn't promise you interviews.'"

Former VES client Stacey Kastel wasn't surprised staffers sneaked out sometime over the weekend.

"If I had to play out the scene ahead of time to write it down, I don't think I could have scripted it any better," she says.

Kastel is one of hundreds of former VES clients who contacted 10 On Your Side over the years. Out of work, she bought into the promise of a job and it cost her $365.00.

"They're taking advantage of people and they have been for 10 years."

Virginia Attorney General Williams Mims said enough in July. He filed a civil lawsuit against the company and its previous operating names, "New Beginnings" and "Virginia Personnel," claiming it conducted fraudulent business practices and violated the Consumer Protection Act.

David Clementson, with the Attorney General's office released the following statement regarding VES' office being closed:

"This does not end the lawsuit filed by this office on behalf of consumers. VES filed a legal response while it is welcome news they are apparently ceasing operations, this office is seeking far more including injunctive relief, penalties, attorney's fees and restitution for consumers. We continue to encourage consumers to report fraudulent activities to the office of consumer affairs and we ask consumers to remain vilgilant with regards to offers of such services."

Late Monday afternoon, 10 On Your Side obtained VES's attorney Roger Griffin's response to those allegations. Griffin denies the company, its owners, James and Karla O'Leary, and staff did anything fraudulent, including portraying the company has special relationships with area employers.

However, during a 2007 10 On Your Side undercover investigation, an employee was only too eager to tell our producer otherwise.

Kastel hopes this is the last anyone sees of VES.

"I hope they haven't packed up and moved to another state where they can pull the same idiocies on other innocent people that are starving and looking for work," she said.

Ten On Your Side contacted the Virginia State Corporation Commission and VES's business license remains in good standing. A court date has not yet been set.

If you suspect you may have been the victim of fruadulent business practice call the Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-552-9963.

Count on 10 On Your Side for the latest developments in this case.