Current AGO News
Below are current news releases and consumer alerts issued by the Attorney General's Office. The RSS feed may be obtained here.
Nixon takes legal action against developers of subdivision near Hartsburg for erosion runoff
July 3, 2008 - Attorney General Jay Nixon is seeking civil penalties and a court order because of erosion and sediment from a residential subdivision near Hartsburg that threatens to pollute a nearby stream. Nixon today filed a lawsuit in Boone County against Dana and Elizabeth Austin, the developers of the Ridge at Hart Creek, a 121—acre residential development site on Christian School Road.
Former bookkeeper at Poplar Bluff nursing home pleads guilty; ordered to repay more than $47,000
July 2, 2008 - A Poplar Bluff woman was convicted today on criminal charges that she forged checks in order to steal money from the resident trust fund account of the nursing home where she was the bookkeeper. Tammy Lynn Dudley (DOB – 3/20/71) pleaded guilty to one count each of forgery, stealing by deceit, and abuse of a person receiving health care by taking of funds. The victims were Medicaid recipients who were residents at the Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff.
Nixon: settlement with MoneyGram will help fight wire transfer fraud through $1.1 million consumer awareness program
July 2, 2008 - A Minnesota company that provides money transfer services to hundreds of thousands of locations around the world will fund a $1.1 million national consumer awareness program under a multi—state agreement with Attorney General Jay Nixon, 43 other states and the District of Columbia. Missouri is part of the assurance of voluntary compliance with MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc., reached in response to concerns about the use of the company’s wire transfer services by fraudulent telemarketers. The agreement was filed today in Cole County Circuit Court.
Criminal charges filed in alleged Kansas City trucking investment scam; information on defendant’s whereabouts sought
July 2, 2008 - Attorney General Jay Nixon has filed nine felony securities fraud charges against a Kansas City man who allegedly defrauded three investors out of approximately $574,000 in a trucking investment scheme. The charges against Steve Brownell (DOB – 4/29/57) were filed on May 28 in Jackson County Circuit Court, and the defendant has yet to turn himself in to authorities.
Nixon sues Blue Springs home improvement business for taking thousands of dollars from consumers for work never completed
July 1, 2008 - Attorney General Jay Nixon is seeking a permanent injunction, full restitution for consumers and civil penalties in a lawsuit filed today against a Blue Springs home improvement business that accepted thousands of dollars in down payments from customers but never completed the projects. Nixon filed the petition against Steven C. Schonfeldt and his business, Complete Custom Home Concepts (CCHC), today in Jackson County Circuit Court.
Kansas City roofer arrested, charged by Attorney General Nixon with taking payment for work not done
July 1, 2008 - A Kansas City roofer with a previous conviction of home repair fraud was arrested today by Independence police on new charges filed by Attorney General Jay Nixon. Richard “Gus” Tallen II (DOB – 7—1—73), a.k.a. Joe Carbone, faces seven felony counts of unlawful merchandising practices that allege he took down payments of as much as $5,600 from roofing customers during 2006 and 2007 but did not do the work or provide refunds.
Nixon says 370 more profiles of Missouri registered sex offenders have been pulled from MySpace
July 1, 2008 - The social network MySpace has removed the online profiles of an additional 370 registered sex offenders from Missouri over the past four months, Attorney General Jay Nixon said today.
State Supreme Court sets July 30 execution date for 1995 drug—related murders in Mercer County
June 27, 2008 - The Missouri Supreme Court today set a July 30 execution date for John Middleton (DOB — 11/2/59). Middleton was sentenced to die for the June 1995 murders of Randy Hamilton and Stacey Hodge in rural Mercer County. The office of Attorney General Jay Nixon prosecuted the case and has represented the state in opposing Middleton’s appeals.
Nixon announces drywall contractor is bound over for trial on tax charges involving undocumented workers
June 27, 2008 - A drywall contractor working on the Southernside Apartment building project in O’Fallon was bound over for trial on Thursday (June 26) on eight criminal counts brought by Attorney General Jay Nixon and St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas. H&H Drywall Specialties, of Tulsa, Okla., was charged last December with failing to withhold payroll taxes from its construction workers and remit those payroll taxes to the State of Missouri.
Attorney General Jay Nixon’s statement on today’s U.S. Supreme Court Second Amendment decision in D.C. v. Heller
June 26, 2008 - Attorney General Jay Nixon today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in D.C. v. Heller:
Nixon reaches settlement with broker selling Branson timeshares; Festiva to pay $324,393 restitution, $15,000 in penalties and costs
June 25, 2008 - A North Carolina business that allegedly used false and misleading sales tactics in selling timeshares at the Cabins at Green Mountain near Branson will pay $324,393 in restitution to consumers, $5,000 in civil penalties and $10,000 to the state in costs under an agreement announced today by Attorney General Jay Nixon. Nixon’s assurance of voluntary compliance with Festiva Resorts LLC of Asheville, N.C., filed today in Cole County Circuit Court, also stipulates that the business stop violating Missouri state consumer protection laws by utilizing such sales tactics.
Cole County jury commits Jefferson City man as sexually violent predator
June 24, 2008 - A jury in Cole County on Thursday (June 19) found Chance Tyree to be a sexually violent predator (SVP) and committed him to the state treatment center in Farmington. Circuit Judge Jon Beetem signed the judgment and commitment order.
Nixon: Some Missourians are paying for veterans benefits they could be getting for free
June 24, 2008 - Attorney General Jay Nixon says some Missouri veterans or their widows may be paying fees to help them access veterans benefits, when that assistance is free from several government agencies and non—profit organizations.
Nixon cautions eastern Missourians to watch for scams during flood preparation and recovery
June 20, 2008 - As residents in Missouri towns along the Mississippi River work furiously to protect their communities from flooding, Attorney General Jay Nixon is reminding consumers to watch out for con artists. Nixon says thieves often target hard—hit areas claiming to offer home—repair services. The Attorney General says these scam artists often go door—to—door, offering quick services for consumers who may be in urgent need of repairs and supplies, whether it’s a new roof, windows, generators or other services.
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Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).
All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.
E-mail Phone: 573-751-8844 Fax: 573-751-5818