News & Press Releases 2009

Attorney General praises the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of U.S. Marshal John Kammerzell -- 12/29/2009

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers praised the U.S. Senate’s vote on Christmas Eve to confirm the director of the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, John Kammerzell, as Colorado’s next U.S. Marshal.

“I am pleased to see that the U.S. Senate has confirmed John as Colorado’s next U.S. Marshal,” Suthers said. “John has dedicated his life to public service and public safety. He has done a great job at the Department of Law as the POST director. I look forward to watching him continue his career as one of Colorado’s top federal law enforcement leaders.”

Attorney General joins fellow state AGs in reviewing constitutionality of health care bill’s provisions discriminating in favor of Nebraska -- 12/22/2009

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today he is joining with several other state attorneys general in studying provisions of the health care bill the U.S. Senate is considering that discriminate in favor of Nebraska’s Medicaid program at the expense of the other states.

Attorney General files lawsuit against two Englewood businesses, their owners suspected of defrauding more than 700 businesses -- 12/18/2009

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that attorneys from his office’s Consumer Protection Section have filed a lawsuit against two Englewood-based businesses and their owners, Tyrone E. Tymkovich (DOB: 12/30/1977) of Aurora and Sam Levine (DOB: 2/1/1967) of Castle Rock, who are suspected of defrauding more than 700 businesses in Colorado and other states between July 2006 and September 2009.

Attorney General announces 16-year sentence for ringleader of illegal gambling, loan sharking ring -- 12/14/2009

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that a Jefferson County District Court judge has sentenced Jeffrey Castardi (DOB: 5/23/1961) to 16 years in prison for his role in running an illegal gambling ring that centered around the Gin Rummy Club, 2380 South Broadway in Denver.

Attorney General files lawsuit against former Roaring Fork Valley couple suspected of widespread identity theft, commercial-lending fraud -- 12/14/2009

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that attorneys from his office’s Consumer Protection Section have filed a lawsuit against two former Coloradans, Donald Sterling Whitlock (DOB: 5/6/1970) and Erin Reese Whitlock (DOB: 7/11/1969), who are suspected of defrauding consumers through the use of fake commercial lending companies and committing multiple identity thefts involving numerous victims.

Attorney General announces 20-year sentence for ringleader of identity theft, auto-break-in ring -- 12/11/2009

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that a Boulder County District Court judge has sentenced Ismael Lopez (DOB: 1/24/1972) to 20 years in prison for his role as the ringleader of an identity theft ring that broke into cars parked at trailheads and parks in Boulder, Broomfield and Jefferson counties.

Colorado has highest participation in No Call registry -- 12/07/2009

Attorney General calls FTC report ‘an encouraging sign’ about Colorado consumers

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said today that a Federal Trade Commission report on participation in the federal Do Not Call Registry for the 2009 fiscal year indicates that Coloradans are highly informed about their rights under the program.

Attorney General announces actions taken against 10 companies preying on Colorado borrowers -- 11/24/2009

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that his office has taken action against 10 loan-modification firms doing business in Colorado as part of his office’s efforts to crack down on loan-modification companies preying on Coloradans in foreclosure. These 10 companies, nine of which are located outside Colorado, either failed to deliver results to Colorado consumers or engaged in deceptive advertising. The actions taken against the companies will require them to either comply with Colorado law or not do business in the state.

Attorney General announces Colorado, federal government will recover more than $42 million for environmental remediation -- 11/24/2009

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that the state and federal government will receive more than $42 million as part of a Chapter 11 reorganization plan a judge from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas has approved for Asarco, Inc. and certain related companies. The order, approved by Judge Andrew S.

Attorney General announces receipt of Colorado's share of Aventis settlement -- 11/20/2009

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers today announced that Colorado has received $421,000 as part of a $95.5 million settlement with Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of sanofi-aventis U.S., LLC. The agreement resolves allegations that Aventis and its corporate predecessors knowingly misreported best prices for the steroid-based anti-inflammatory nasal sprays Azmacort, Nasacort and Nasacort AQ between 1995 and 2000. The Office of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit facilitated Colorado’s share of the settlement.