New HampshireDepartment of JusticeOffice of the Attorney General

News Release

For Immediate Release
July 12, 2022

Contact:
Michael S. Garrity, Director of Communications
michael.s.garrity@doj.nh.gov | (603) 931-9375

Brandon H. Garod, Senior Assistant Attorney General
Brandon.H.Garod@doj.nh.gov | (603) 271-1217

Camps for Grownups, LTD Sentenced for Unfair and Deceptive Practices in Conjunction with Cancelled 2019 Jazz Camp

Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Camps for Grownups, LTD. ("Camps"), entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced on one felony count of committing unfair and deceptive acts or practices in violation of New Hampshire's Consumer Protection Act. The plea and sentencing took place at the Rockingham County Superior Court today.

Camps is a domestic for-profit corporation, incorporated under the laws of New Hampshire. Camps manages and markets adult activity camps, including but not limited to a Jazz Camp and a Ballroom Dancing Camp. Camps is owned and operated by Byron J. Siegal, age 75 of Quincy, Massachusetts

Under the terms of the sentence, Camps is required to make full restitution of approximately $130,000 to all 85 impacted consumers. Camps is prohibited from accepting any prepayments or deposits for a period of up to ten years. Camps was also fined $100,000 for its conduct, with the entirety of the fine suspended for ten years contingent on full compliance with the terms of the sentence.

By pleading guilty, Camps admitted that between April 1 and July 21, 2019, Camps purposely engaged in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the course of commerce. Specifically, the business admitted to causing email solicitations to be sent, which encouraged consumers to register for the Jazz Camp and maintaining a website that allowed new consumers to register for the Jazz Camp that was scheduled to take place in August, 2019, despite knowing that the business lacked sufficient funds or a reasonable anticipated source of future funding to hold the camp as advertised.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Brandon H. Garod of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau (the "Bureau") prosecuted this case. Investigator Frederick Lulka and Financial Analyst Carol Guyer, also of the Bureau, investigated the matter based on several consumer complaints received by the Bureau.

To report a violation of New Hampshire's Consumer Protection Act please visit https://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints/index.htm and submit a complaint form.

New Hampshire Department of Justice
1 Granite Place South | Concord, NH | 03301
Telephone: 603-271-3658