Founder accused of operating illegal charity, failing to account for donor contributions

 OLYMPIA — A Forks resident who raised $300,000 for a non-profit dog rescue organization, but failed to register with the Secretary of State or produce required records of how the donations were spent, has been sued by the Attorney General’s Office for violating Washington’s Charitable Solicitations Act and Consumer Protection Act.

Attorney General’s Office prevents community release of violent predator

OLYMPIA — In a case being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Unit, a repeat sex offender has acknowledged that he is a danger to the community and will be civilly committed to the State’s Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island.

OLYMPIA — The Washington Attorney General’s Office filed a petition yesterday in Kitsap County Superior Court seeking to prevent a repeat sex offender from being released into the community.

Washington’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) law allows the state Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to petition for the civil commitment of violent sex offenders who, because of mental abnormalities and/or personality disorders, are proven likely to re-engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if released.

Seeks to reject company’s request to increase customer charge from $8 to $15 per month for electric service and from $8 to $12 per month for natural gas service

SEATTLE — The Public Counsel Unit of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office has challenged electric and gas rate increases proposed by Avista Corp.

The Spokane-based utility is requesting that temporary rates that went into effect Jan.1, 2014 be made permanent. The temporary increase raised electric rates by $14 million and natural gas rates by $1.4 million.

Ferguson targets two scam “rescue” operations

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson has filed lawsuits against two mortgage rescue scammers that target struggling homeowners in Washington state.

Ferguson alleges Delay My Sale Date and US Recovery Program have taken advantage of homeowners by falsely promising they can delay or prevent foreclosure.

Courtesy of the Department of Labor & Industries

Spokane – A Spokane woman stands accused of raking in more than $100,000 in disability benefits while working with her husband to operate his motel, and their nightclub and apartment building.

The Washington Attorney General's Office has charged Mistie S. Crosby, 52, with one count of first-degree, felony theft. Crosby is slated to appear on the charge in Spokane County Superior Court on July 23.

Courtesy of the Department of Labor & Industries

SEATTLE — An unregistered contractor must serve 30 days in jail for scamming homeowners who paid him thousands of dollars for home improvement projects that he never finished.

King County Superior Court Judge Theresa Doyle also ordered Gary Shannon Edwards to repay his victims in King and Pierce counties $51,659, and pay court costs.

Seeks to refund money to consumers, stop deceptive ads

SEATTLE—Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit today against the makers of 5-hour ENERGY®, the popular energy drink. The AGO alleges they misled consumers with ads claiming that doctors recommend 5-hour ENERGY®, by implying the product is safe for teenagers and claiming that the product causes ‛no sugar crash’ when the companies’ own study showed it triggers a caffeine crash.

OLYMPIA—Negotiators from Washington state and the federal government have agreed to extend the dispute resolution period by 70 days, ending on Sept. 5.

The dispute resolution was triggered under a 2010 court order to clean up high-level radioactive and chemically hazardous waste at Hanford.

Joins national effort to help military families avoid scams and fraud

OLYMPIA – Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson joins other government agencies, advocacy organizations and private sector groups today, July 16, 2014, in commemorating the second annual Military Consumer Protection Day.

“The men and women who serve to protect our country don't deserve to be taken advantage of by businesses that don't play by the rules," said Ferguson. “I am making sure that my office stands firmly for military families against fraud and scams.”