Hundreds of thousands of Washington state consumers to receive full refund and additional benefits

SEATTLE—After receiving consumer complaints the Attorney General’s Office began an investigation that led to resolution of alleged violations of the Consumer Protection Act by DISH Network.

DISH agrees to:

• Refund approximately $2 million to Washington state consumers;
• Provide additional benefits to consumers that could total up to $3 million; and
• Pay the AGO $569,500 for costs and fees.

OLYMPIA—Trial started Monday in Pierce County Superior Court in a case where the Washington Attorney General’s Office is seeking to civilly commit a Pierce County sex offender to prevent his release 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 a mental abnormality and/or personality disorder, are proven likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if released.

OLYMPIA—In a trial starting this week in Clark County Superior Court, the Washington Attorney General’s Office is seeking to civilly commit a Clark County sex offender and prevent his release 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 a mental abnormality and/or personality disorder, are proven likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if released.

Waterville, Wash. – The Attorney General’s Office has secured a guilty plea, full restitution and $1,045 in additional investigative fees from a Douglas County woman charged with embezzling $4,379 from the Waterville School District.

Rachel Poppie was responsible for a high school fundraising program. The state alleged she was skimming funds from October 2012 through June 2013.
Poppie pled guilty to Theft in the 3rd Degree with full restitution to the school district.

Alleges man engaged in multiple fraudulent schemes, stole more than $15K

OLYMPIA — The Attorney General’s Office today filed charges in King County Superior Court against a Federal Way man the state alleges fraudulently obtained more than  $15,000 from the state and federal government in three different schemes involving Medicaid, food stamps and social security.

Prosecutors with the Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) charged Han-Bae Kim with:

OLYMPIA—Stevens County Judge Pat Monasmith today sentenced former Colville Police Officer Rex Newport to 29 months in prison and 36 months in community custody after Newport pled guilty to several felonies and misdemeanors in February.

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee today announced that he is appointing Tanya Thorp to King County Superior Court.
 

AGO & BBB help consumers during Financial Literacy Month

SEATTLE—The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has teamed up with Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington for Financial Literacy Month.

Issues proposed revision to 2010 Consent Decree
AGO joint release with the Governor's Office and Department of Ecology

OLYMPIA – Governor Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson today issued new demands to the U.S. Department of Energy to ensure timely Hanford cleanup in the form of a proposed plan to revise the 2010 Consent Decree. The proposal aims to prevent the federal government from delaying cleanup of Hanford’s radioactive and hazardous tank waste.

OLYMPIA—Trial starts today in Kitsap County Superior Court as the Attorney General’s Office seeks to keep a Kitsap County sex predator confined at Washington’s Special Commitment Center for sexually violent predators.

Elmer “Todd” Gillis, 49, was convicted of three sexual offenses between 1983 and 1993. He has been continuously confined either at the Special Commitment Center or at the Secure Community Transition Facility on McNeil Island since 1997.

As allowed under the law, Gillis is now asking the court for unconditional release into the community.