News & Press Releases 2009

Rise In Telephone Scam Reports Prompts Attorney General To Warn Coloradans To Protect Personal Information -- 03/30/2009

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers issued a consumer advisory today warning Coloradans to be wary of phones calls from companies informing you of alleged problems with your credit card or other bank accounts. The callers, saying they need to confirm your account or your identity, ask for your credit card number or banking account number and your Social Security number.

The Office of the Attorney General has seen an increase in the number of Coloradans reporting that they have been victimized by callers claiming to be their bank or credit card company.

Attorney General Announces Indictment In Front Range Identity Theft Ring -- 03/19/2009

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today the Statewide Grand Jury has issued a 30-count indictment against four Coloradans suspected of breaking into cars parked at trailheads and parks in Boulder, Broomfield and Jefferson counties, stealing their credit cards and using the cards to make fraudulent purchases.

Attorney General John Suthers ‘Disappointed’ With Supreme Court’s Decision In Tax Increase Case -- 03/16/2009

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said he is disappointed the Colorado Supreme Court decided to uphold the 2007 statewide property tax increase, passed without a vote of the people.

“Given the Court’s history with the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, I am not surprised by the decision, but I am nonetheless disappointed,” Suthers said. “The dissent is eminently better reasoned than the majority’s opinion. I remain convinced that the Colorado Constitution dictates that the voters decide when their taxes should be increased.”

Eleven Companies Settle With The State Under New Debt-Management And Credit Counseling Regulations -- 03/12/2009

DENVER – Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that enforcement actions taken under debt management laws that came into effect last year have resulted in settlements from 11 companies.

“In this current economy, consumers need to be particularly careful about offers to eliminate debts and erase negative information from credit records,” Attorney General John Suthers said. “Consumers should avoid paying large amounts in money in return for promises that sound too good to be true.”

Statewide Grand Jury Issues Indictment In Fraud Case -- 03/09/2009

DENVER – The Colorado Attorney General’s Office announced today the Statewide Grand Jury has indicted Terry Paul Dorman (DOB: 3/24/1946) on a series of felonies for his role in a fraudulent tax preparation, securities fraud and theft scheme.

Attorney General John Suthers said Dorman’s indictment covers 29 counts, including tax evasion, preparing false tax returns, failure to pay over taxes, securities fraud, theft, forgery, identity theft, theft from an at-risk adult and computer crime.

U.S. Supreme Court Sides With Colorado In Dispute With Kansas Over $9 Million In Expert Witness Fees -- 03/09/2009

DENVER – The U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion today unanimously endorsing Colorado’s position in a decades-old water dispute that Kansas can only be reimbursed $40 per day as compensation for expert witnesses utilized in presenting its case.

“The Supreme Court’s decision today marks a bright note for Colorado in this long-running water dispute,” Attorney General John Suthers said. “We are glad to see the Supreme Court sided with our position on the matter of expert witness fees and, as a result, saved Colorado taxpayers more than $9 million.”

Attorney General Announces 96 Year Sentence In Drug And Theft Ring Case -- 02/25/2009

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers announced today that La Plata County District Court Judge David L. Dickinson issued a 12-page written order yesterday sentencing Defendant Jay Dee Russell to the Department of Corrections for 96 years as a habitual criminal on multiple felony convictions including violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft, Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Schedule II- Methamphetamine) and Tampering with a witness.

Attorney General Announces 10 Year Sentence In Ft. Collins White Collar Investment Fraud Scheme -- 02/25/2009

DENVER – Attorney General John Suthers announced that on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, the Larimer County District Court sentenced Rick Van Vleet ("Van Vleet") of Fort Collins, Colorado, to a 10 year prison term for operating a fraudulent investment scheme that raised nearly three million dollars from investors, including senior citizens. In November 2008 Van Vleet pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud, a Class Three Felony, in the criminal action brought against him by the Attorney General’s securities fraud unit.

Attorney General Suthers Praises Court Of Appeals Decision Upholding State Charter School Law -- 02/19/2009

DENVER – Colorado Attorney General John Suthers praised a decision by the Colorado Court of Appeals today that upheld the constitutionality of the Colorado Charter Schools Act.

The case centers on Boulder Valley School District’s claim that the General Assembly does not have constitutional authority to create and fund charter schools that are not controlled by local school boards.

Attorney General Suthers Announces Grand Jury Indictment In Charitable Fraud Case -- 02/19/2009

DENVER – Colorado Attorney General John Suthers today announced that the Statewide Grand Jury has indicted Danny Kleiman and David Werkmeister on multiple felony charges involving a scheme to solicit thousands of dollars in charitable donations for non-existent charities.

The charges include violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, thefts from at-risk adults, forgery, perjury and felony violations of the Colorado Charitable Solicitations Act.