News & Press Releases 2005

Lafayette Murder Fugitive Arrested in Mexico -- 03/02/2005

DENVER – Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers, Boulder County District Attorney Mary Keenan, and Lafayette Police Chief Paul Schultz announced today the arrest of Ramon Villalobos for the first degree murder of Thomas Avalos on August 30, 1987.

The murder took place outside DJ’s Bar in Lafayette after the two men argued over a dice game. Villalobos was apprehended by Mexican federal agents on February 25, 2004 in Chihuahua, Mexico and will be tried by a Mexican court. If convicted, Villalobos could face decades in a Mexican federal prison.

Law Enforcement Agencies to make Announcement in 17-Year Old Lafayette Investigation -- 03/01/2005

DENVER - Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers, Boulder County District Attorney Mary Keenan, and Lafayette Chief of Police Paul Schultz will hold a joint press conference TOMORROW AT 1O A.M. to announce an arrest in the murder of Thomas Avalos. Mr. Avalos was killed on August 30, 1987, after being shot outside D.J.’s Bar in Lafayette.

Attorney General John Suthers Announces Senior Management Team and Office Reorganization -- 02/24/2005

DENVER - Attorney General John Suthers has named his senior management team in the Department of Law.

“These attorneys are among the brightest legal minds in Colorado,” said Suthers. “I am pleased they have agreed to serve. The citizens of Colorado are fortunate to have them managing the legal work of the State.”

The Office of the Attorney General includes Attorney General Suthers and the following three individuals:

Attorney General Suthers Warns of New Identity Theft "Phishing” Scams -- 02/09/2005

DENVER – As part of National Consumer Protection Week, Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers issued a general warning to consumers to be on the lookout for a series of new Internet e-mail scams designed to steal important personal information. These unsolicited e-mail messages appear to be from a bank or security company and seek to “verify” certain personal information about the recipient.

Attorney General Suthers Issues Statewide Report on Consumer Complaints for 2004 -- 02/09/2005

DENVER – As part of National Consumer Protection Week, Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers today announced his 2004 Colorado Top Ten Consumer Complaint List. The Top Ten List is comprised of information gathered through a number of sources, including the Colorado Consumer Line. The Colorado Consumer Line (1-800-222-4444) is a statewide partnership between the Attorney General’s Office, the Better Business Bureaus serving Colorado, and AARP ElderWatch to better help Coloradans resolve the thousands of consumer complaints filed annually and to improve consumer services.

Media Contact Information -- 02/09/2005

DENVER - Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has hired attorney Jason Dunn to serve as Deputy Attorney General for Legal Policy and Governmental Affairs. Mr. Dunn will act as public information officer until a permanent Communications Director is hired in the coming weeks.

Mr. Dunn can be reached at 303-866-5632.

States Unite to Promote SUV Safety with $27 Million Public Educaton Campaign -- 01/31/2005

DENVER – Interim Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers today announced that he is joining with the nation’s other Attorneys General to launch the ESUVEE Safety Campaign, a $27 million, yearlong national education program designed to reduce SUV rollovers, particularly among younger male drivers who have the highest incidence of such accidents.

Interim Attorney General Suthers and AARP Elderwatch Warn Consumers of Gas Voucher Scam -- 01/19/2005

DENVER - Colorado Interim Attorney General John W. Suthers and AARP ElderWatch today issued an alert warning consumers about a gas voucher scam that is targeting Colorado residents, particularly seniors.

The scam is simple: the telephone rings, the caller tells you about a wonderful free gasoline offer from the U.S. Department of Energy. The caller goes on to explain that, for a small service fee, you are eligible to receive vouchers worth $200 in free gas! Be forewarned: there is no free gas.

Colordo Settles with Student Data Collection Company that Shared Information with Commercial Firms -- 01/13/2005

DENVER - Interim Attorney General John W. Suthers announced today that 42 states including Colorado have entered into a consumer protection settlement with National Research Center for College and University Admissions (“NRCCUA”) concerning NRCCUA’s collection of personal information through high school student surveys.

Colorado Joins $40 Million Settlement with State Farm over Salvage Vehicles -- 01/10/2005

DENVER - Colorado Interim Attorney General John W. Suthers announced today that his office has joined 48 other states in a $40 million settlement with State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. The settlement came after an internal audit by State Farm revealed that it may have failed to properly re-title thousands of total-loss vehicles subsequently resold by State Farm. The settlement covers cars, motorcycles, motor homes and semi-trailers. It does not cover trailers, ATV’s, snowmobiles, or any watercraft.