TACOMA– Two people were arraigned in Pierce County Superior Court today on fraud and identity theft-related charges filed by the Attorney General’s Office.

Sophia R. Sanders, 39, pled not guilty to two counts of Identity Theft in the First Degree, one count of Theft in the First Degree, 14 counts of Theft in the Second Degree and three counts of Medicaid False Statement. These felony crimes are punishable by up to ten years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.

OLYMPIA - Senior U.S. District Judge Alan McDonald today ruled on summary judgment in United States. v. Manning that Initiative 297, the Cleanup Priority Act, is unconstitutional in its entirety.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna convened Washington’s first statewide summit to address identity theft on Wednesday in SeaTac, bringing together nearly 300 leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss how to tackle what has become the fastest-growing crime in the United States.

“Our identity is our most personal possession,” McKenna told summit participants. “It’s who we are. We must fight against those criminals who would try to take that away.”

OLYMPIA -- Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced he has appointed Sr. Assistant Attorney General Maureen Hart as the new Solicitor General.

The Solicitor General is responsible for coordinating cases at the U.S. Supreme Court and at appellate levels in both state and federal courts, as well as preparing formal Attorney General Opinions.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – An individual care giver in Grays Harbor County pled guilty today to one count of Theft in the First Degree for collecting from the state-federal medical assistance program more than $6,700 in payments for care she never provided.

According to the affidavit filed by a state Medicaid Fraud Investigator, Krista Richters claimed to provide care for the maximum 100 hours per month from February 2004 through October 2004. In the affidavit, she admitted she had not worked even “one hour.”

SEATTLE -- The Attorney General’s Office is warning consumers to beware of “phishing” scammers on the Internet. Phishing is an attempt to trick consumers into disclosing personal and/or financial information.

The emails appear to come from legitimate financial institutions, such as U.S. Bank and Citibank. Many of these schemes contain links to “look-alike” websites that are loaded with actual trademarked images. The websites then instruct consumers to “re-enter” their credit card numbers, social security numbers, bank PINs, or other personal information.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna said it’s too soon to tell how Washington will be impacted by the damage Hurricane Katrina caused to Gulf refineries, but warned drivers that the state has a limited ability to regulate gasoline prices.

SEATTLE -- Washington consumers who used the antidepressant drug Remeron could receive part of a $36 million multi-state settlement with its manufacturer, Organon USA Inc, Attorney General Christine Gregoire announced today.

Remeron is a mental health drug primarily used to treat depression. Attorneys General from 50 states sued Organon for improperly trying to keep Remeron's generic equivalent off the market in order to maintain profitability on sales of the drug. With annual sales over $400 million at its peak, Remeron is Organon's top-selling drug.

SPOKANE -- Thousands of consumers who purchased bogus medical supplies in Washington and 17 other states will benefit from a settlement announced today by Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire.

The settlement, for $150,000, was reached with defendant Eric Glenn concerning Glenn's sale of magnetic mattress pads and "Chinese" mineral lamps.

SEATTLE -- Attorney General Christine Gregoire today announced that 49 agencies statewide will receive grants totaling $695,000 from a recent settlement with Medco Health Solutions, Inc. The money will be used to benefit low-income, disabled or elderly consumers of prescription medications in Washington.