Words in Edgewise News Roundup - February 1, 2026

Robert Cox

01 Feb 2026 — 6 min read

St Brigid Cross

DUBLIN, IRELAND (February 1, 2026) — Happy St. Brigid’s Day!

Imbolc, also known as St Brigid’s Day, is observed today as a traditional Gaelic festival marking the beginning of spring and the feast day of Ireland’s patroness saint, Brigid. The festival falls on February 1 and lies roughly halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Since 2023, “Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day” has been an annual public holiday (bank holiday weekend) in Ireland, the first Irish public holiday named after a woman.

Mamaroneck Police Chief warned village council about naughty massage parlors, the Garris litigation is still not resolved, the teen who killed a Monroe University basketball player was indicted and now looking at 25 years in prison, and lots of snow.

I ran four new stories in my series, Robert P. Rubicco: Criminal, Liar, Fraud, Daycare Operator.

XXVI: In a 2021 merchant cash advance agreement, Samson MCA LLC advanced $200,000 to Robert P. Rubicco Jr.‘s daycare businesses, Anna & Jack’s Treehouse, LLC and 770 Treehouse, LLC, in exchange for $260,000 in future receivables. After remitting only $41,260, payments ceased in September 2021, leading to default. In 2022, New York Supreme Court Justice Mark J. Grisanti granted Samson summary judgment for $317,457 ($286,897 principal plus interest), rejecting defenses claiming usury and fraud, as the deal was structured as a receivable purchase, not a loan. An appeal notice was filed but saw no further action. The judgment was fully satisfied on August 13, 2025. This case fits a pattern of MCA disputes involving Rubicco’s entities.

XXVII: In July 2021, Fox Capital Group, Inc. advanced $175,000 to Robert P. Rubicco Jr.’s Connecticut-based Anna & Jack’s Treehouse daycare entities (including 770 Treehouse LLC and others) in a merchant cash advance deal for $236,250 in future receivables at 15% of receipts, with Rubicco as personal guarantor. Defendants defaulted around August 12, 2021, after remitting only ~$39,790. Following an initial settlement stipulation in December 2021 (partially performed with ~$50,000 paid, including funds from Intuit), breach led to a $166,043.69 default judgment entered July 20, 2022, in Nassau County Supreme Court. A 2023 contempt motion for non-compliance with post-judgment subpoenas preceded a final November 2023 settlement stipulation. The judgment was fully satisfied on August 20, 2025, per a filed satisfaction.

XVIII: In November 2022, Vox Funding, LLC filed suit in Nassau County Supreme Court (Index No. 615241/2022) against Robert P. Rubicco Jr., his guaranty, and affiliated Anna & Jack’s Treehouse entities (including locations in New Rochelle, Pelham, and Norwalk) over defaults on four 2021 merchant cash advance agreements totaling ~$1.13 million advanced for a claimed repayment obligation of $1,396,791.60. Defendants defaulted by blocking ACH debits and diverting receipts; defenses of usury, fraud, and duress were raised but rejected. Balance sheets submitted in 2023 showed insolvency across entities with negative net equity totaling over $592,000. Following a TRO and hearing, the court appointed a temporary receiver in 2023 under CPLR § 6401 to control assets, operations, and collections amid demonstrated financial distress and competing claims. No public trial or judgment ensued; the case was disposed and closed, likely resolving privately. The Norwalk location (770 Treehouse LLC) was sold in August 2024 to Cadence Education via HINGE Early Education Advisors.

XXIX: In a February 9, 2023, supplemental memorandum filed by Vox Funding, LLC in Nassau County Supreme Court (Index No. 615241/2022), detailed analysis of January 13, 2023 balance sheets for Robert P. Rubicco’s Anna & Jack’s Treehouse entities revealed deep insolvency across New Rochelle, Norwalk, and Pelham locations, with negative net equity after correcting inflated intercompany receivables, questionable capitalized expenses (e.g., attorney fees and deferred MCA costs), and understated liabilities. Despite receiving $218,000 in federal PPP/EIDL relief and millions in 2020–2021 MCA advances, the companies faced defaults and judgments exceeding $2 million, prompting the court’s 2023 appointment of a temporary receiver under CPLR § 6401, stripping Rubicco of operational control to preserve assets amid mismanagement allegations. Concurrently, reports noted Rubicco’s personal luxury purchases—including a $250,000 boat, Porsche Taycan Turbo S ($186k), Cadillac Escalade ($88–97k), and Jeep—amid his documented criminal history spanning 2002–2013.