Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced the entry of a consent judgment against Happy Fun Events, LLC, Owen Spencer Hunn, and Martha Hunn. The Hunns owned Happy Fun Events, a Utah-based company, that put on “Lantern Fest” events around the country. Happy Fun Events had scheduled an event in Jefferson County for November 2018 that it […]
Tag: hotline
Promissory note scam allegedly defrauds investors in 35 States
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Securities Division is seeking a final order from Commissioner David Minnick for $200,000 in civil penalties and other remedies against California-based Until Tomorrow Drivetrains, LLC and Dennis R. Di Ricco. Between December 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017, Until Tomorrow Drivetrains, LLC and Di Ricco, with the assistance of an […]
Bomb threat the cause of Trenton students evacuating building on Wednesday
Details have been released regarding a reported incident at the Trenton High School/Middle School campus on March 30th. The Trenton R-9 School District reports it received information concerning the sighting of a suspicious package at or near THS in the afternoon. The Trenton Police Department reports the communication center received a call about the suspicious […]
Missouri State Auditor launches audit of Nodaway County
The office of State Auditor Nicole Galloway has begun a regularly scheduled audit of Nodaway County in northwest Missouri. The county received a rating of “good” in a state audit released in July 2015. “These audits will provide independent reviews of county government operations to ensure taxpayer resources have been used appropriately and to recommend improvements that will […]
Jackson County contractor arrested for fraud and financial exploitation of the elderly
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that charges brought by his office resulted in the arrest of Jerry Thompson, Jr., of Blue Springs, Missouri. The arrest warrant asserts eight counts of deceptive business practices and three counts of financial exploitation of an elderly person. “My Office will hold accountable anyone who preys on our society’s […]
Missouri State Auditor begins audit of Carroll County Ambulance District
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today announced her office has begun an audit of the Carroll County Ambulance District. The ambulance district board of directors passed a resolution requesting the audit after a complaint to the State Auditor’s Whistleblower Hotline led to an initial review of the allegations by the Auditor’s Public Corruption and Fraud Division. […]
Missouri State Auditor launches audit of Dent County
State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced that her office has begun a regularly scheduled audit of Dent County, located in south-central Missouri. The county received a rating of “good” from the most recent state audit, issued in July 2019. “Audits can help local officials take steps to make government more efficient and effective for taxpayers,” Auditor […]
Missouri State Auditor announces Grundy County audit is underway
State Auditor Nicole Galloway has begun a regularly scheduled audit of Grundy County, in northern Missouri. The county received a rating of “fair” from the most recent state audit, issued in September 2015. “My office will review Grundy County operations to ensure taxpayer resources have been used effectively and appropriately, and make recommendations with any […]
Missouri Attorney General announces top 10 consumer complaints for 2021
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office received 126,100 total consumer complaints in 2021, submitted in writing or via phone call. The Consumer Complaint Unit received 86,856 complaints and inquiries and the No-Call Unit received 39,244 complaints. The Attorney General’s Office has advocates who take complaints and work actively to mediate those complaints between consumers and businesses […]
Missouri is first state to adopt rules requiring investment advisor representatives to ask customers if they have a trusted contact
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Securities Division has announced that Missouri is the first state to adopt rules requiring investment advisor representatives to ask their customers if they have a trusted contact. A trusted contact, as defined by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), is the person you authorize your financial advisor or firm to […]
Missouri Attorney General charges car salesman with consumer fraud
Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office has charged Marcus James Hill of Lebanon, Missouri, with thirteen violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act in relating to his two car dealerships, Variety Auto Sales and Hilltop Auto Sales. Charged in Laclede County, Hill faces thirteen felony counts of deceptive business practices. The charges allege […]
Missouri State Auditor begins audit of Texas County
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today announced that her office has begun a regularly scheduled audit of Texas County, located in south-central Missouri. The most recent audit of Texas County was completed in November 2017 and gave the county an overall performance rating of “poor,” the lowest possible. “My office will conduct an independent review of government operations […]
Ten Florida residents indicted for $67 million healthcare fraud, wire fraud, kickback, and money laundering scheme
Ten Florida residents were charged in an indictment unsealed in the Southern District of Florida for their alleged roles in a $67 million health care fraud, wire fraud, kickback, and money laundering scheme involving the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary genetic tests and durable medical equipment. Daniel M. Carver, […]
Disability advocates say to focus on accessibility in voting reforms
Experts say Missouri ranks low among states when it comes to steps it has taken to improve accessibility in voting. Denise Lieberman, director and general counsel of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, which has a disability-rights committee, said people with disabilities face barriers at all stages of the voting process, from registering to vote to […]
Missouri man allegedly scams investors in hazardous and medical waste company
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Securities Division issued an order to show cause why civil penalties, restitution, costs, and other administrative relief should not be imposed against Steri Med Solutions LLC and David Edward Fenton, DVM. Between November 1, 2014, and January 31, 2016, Fenton, a Columbia, Missouri resident, allegedly sold more than $400,000 in […]
Missouri company ordered to pay restitution and civil penalties after misleading investor
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s securities division issued a final cease and desist order awarding civil penalties, restitution, and costs against a St. Louis start-up company, Fango, LLC, and its founder Imani Butler. Missouri Securities Commissioner David Minnick issued the order following a contested hearing in October 2021. The commissioner found that between August 2015 […]
Task force rescues 57 dogs from “horrific conditions” at Missouri site
The Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force rescued 57 dogs, including Corgis, German Shepherds, Border Collies, and several other large and smaller breeds from a property in Newton County, Missouri. The rescued dogs are being transported to HSMO’s Macklind headquarters in St. Louis, where the animals will receive health evaluations and emergency veterinary […]
Missouri Securities Division Partners with CFTC and 26 states to stop $68 million precious metals scheme
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s Securities Division announced that it is participating in a consolidated enforcement action to stop a $68 million fraudulent precious metals scheme that, to date, has allegedly defrauded at least 450 investors nationwide, including eighteen investors from Missouri. A complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Central District […]
Missouri State Auditor announces start of audit for collector’s office in Reynolds County
State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced today that her office has begun an audit of the county collector’s office in Reynolds County. A new county collector has been appointed after the previous collector resigned last year. Missouri law requires an audit to be performed when a vacancy occurs in a county collector’s office. “This audit will […]