OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today cautioned Washington residents to beware of possible flood-related scams including fraudulent home repair offers and charity appeals.

“As the flood waters recede, scam artists may move into the area to prey on both victims and those who want to help them,” McKenna said. “Watch out for questionable contractors, phony charity pitches and cons posing as government officials.”

SEATTLE – The Attorney General’s Office announced a settlement today with an Everett man accused of violating the state’s charity laws by improperly soliciting donations. Darin Anthony Dewitt  agreed to refund consumers who made donations to Blind Children Services of Puget Sound, which he owned.

The Attorney General’s Office sued Blind Children Services of Puget Sound on Jan. 18 in Snohomish County Superior Court, along with Dewitt and another connected individual, Robert Melbourne Shay.

OLYMPIA… Washington will join several other states in filing suit against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for violating a national ban on the use of cartoons in tobacco advertising, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today.

The Attorney General’s Office today filed a motion in King County Superior Court, seeking an order prohibiting further use of cartoons in advertising and requiring the payment of monetary sanctions of more than $3.5 million, among other requested relief. 

Attorneys General Meet to Discuss Critical Legal Issues of State-Federal Concern

Park City, Utah – Attorney General Rob McKenna along with thirty-two other Attorneys General, their staff, and members of law enforcement are in Utah today as part of the National Association of Attorneys General’s (NAAG) annual winter meeting. Attendees will be hearing from new U.S. Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey.

OLYMPIA— A care giver in Lincoln County pled guilty Tuesday to three counts of First Degree Theft and five counts of Health Care False Claim (as Medicaid False Statement).

Terry L. Garvin’s crimes occurred between April 2004 and October 31, 2006.  She has agreed to $99,433.09 in restitution for having wrongfully obtained Medicaid funds intended to compensate her for care she claimed to have provided her mother.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 3, 2007

OLYMPIA—The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit today filed separate charges in King County against two King County women accused of falsely billing for services.

Eunice D. Laupati was charged today with one count of theft in the first degree and eight counts of Medicaid False Statement.

It is alleged that Laupati billed and was paid $11, 178.18 for providing services to a deceased Medicaid client.

Laupati is scheduled to be arraigned on August 13, 2007.

OLYMPIA—The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit today filed 14 felony counts against a Thurston County woman accused of falsely billing for services.

Sandra Gillihan was charged today with 1 count of theft in the first degree, 10 counts of money laundering, and 3 counts of Medicaid False Statement. Due to the amount alleged to have been stolen, an aggravating factor was alleged in conjunction with the theft charge.

OAK HARBOR – An Oak Harbor couple who took thousands of dollars from aspiring authors is prohibited from marketing ghostwriting and publishing services unless they pay back customers, the Attorney General’s Office announced today.

OLYMPIA--At a hearing in Seattle today, Attorney General Rob McKenna urged Federal Communications Commissioners to take adequate time to fully study the impacts of its proposed rules on media consolidation before adopting them.

OLYMPIA…The Washington State Supreme Court today upheld King County Superior Judge Mary Roberts’ June 13 ruling that Initiative 747 is unconstitutional.

Attorney General Rob McKenna, whose office defends initiatives and other state laws when challenged, said he was concerned by the 5-4 ruling because of its chilling effect on the people’s right to initiative.