Announcements, information and updates from CWAG Members and Associates

August 16, 2018
HOT TOPICS
Articles on topics relevant to the work of Attorneys General around the nation. ( Note: Subscription may be required for access .)
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
AG Schimel Announces Arrest of Alleged Human Trafficker Operating in Wisconsin and 8 Other States
August 15, 2018
 
Attorney General Schimel announced the arrest of Glenwood Brown, Jr. of Chicago on charges involving human trafficking in at least nine states. The investigation was led by Human Trafficking Bureau agents from the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), with assistance from the FBI.

For more information about human trafficking visit  www.BeFreeWisconsin.com .
South Dakota Sex Trafficking Operation Results in Arrests
August 14, 2018

Attorney General Marty Jackley, United States Attorney Ron Parsons, Pennington County State's Attorney Mark Vargo, Rapid City Police Chief Karl Jegeris, and Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom announced that the Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations have conducted investigations into sex trafficking in Rapid City.
 
“Law enforcement has joined together in a cooperative operation that focuses on removing sexual predators from our streets. Our operations continue to protect children and send a message that South Dakota is off-limits to anyone seeking to harm our c hildren,” said Jackley.

Attorney General Marty Jackley said Tuesday his office worked in conjunction with the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, Rapid City police, Sturgis police and the state Division of Criminal Investigation on the sting which took place during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Six men, ranging in age from 20 to 55, are charged with attempted enticement of a minor using the internet. The charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison upon conviction.
3D-PRINTED GUNS
Coalition of 22 State Attorneys General Demand That U.S. State Department Stop Online Spread of 3D-Printed Gun Plans
Multistate Letter Urges Trump Administration to Take Immediate Action
August 10, 2018

A coalition of 22 state attorneys general led by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions demanding that the Department of State take immediate action to remove from several websites downloadable plans for 3D-printed guns that were illegally posted online.
 
The letter criticizes the Department of State’s failure to mitigate the harms of its settlement with Defense Distributed, an online company that was authorized by the federal government to post plans for 3D-printed guns online. Last week, a multistate lawsuit filed by nine state attorneys general seeking to stop the Department of State’s action won a temporary restraining order from a federal judge in Seattle, blocking the publication of downloadable plans online. Eleven other state AGs have since joined that lawsuit.
Attorney General Becerra, Joining 19 AGs, Files Motion to Block Trump Administration’s Green Light to Distribute Blueprints of 3D-Printed, Untraceable "Ghost” Guns
August 10, 2018

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra joined a coalition of 20 Attorneys General in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction to continue blocking the Trump Administration’s action making blueprints available on the internet for untraceable (so-called “ghost”) guns that can be manufactured on a 3D printer. Attorney General Becerra also joined a letter expressing concerns about the U.S. Department of State’s failure to enforce federal law to keep untraceable firearms out of the hands of terrorists, criminals, and others seeking to do harm. 
SECURITIES LITIGATION
AG Balderas Seeks Lead Plaintiff Status in Lawsuit against PG&E to Recover Millions of Dollars in Losses to PERA Funds
At a time when state pension funds are facing extreme solvency issues, leaving New Mexican families unsure about their futures, the Attorney General is seeking recovery of nearly $4 million critical to economic security of New Mexico's public employees.
August 14, 2018

Attorney General Hector Balderas announced he has filed a motion seeking lead plaintiff status in securities litigation against Pacific Gas and Electric Company ("PG&E") to recover approximately $4 million in losses suffered by the Public Employees Retirement Association ("PERA"), the State of New Mexico's largest public pension fund. The lawsuit alleges that the fund was severely damaged by PG&E's misstatements and omissions regarding the safety of their electrical lines that caused massive wildfires in Northern California in 2017, and resulted in severe losses to the company’s stock, which PERA holds.
FORENSIC DNA
Attorney General Laxalt Praises "Cold Case" Murder Charges Filed Against Alleged Serial Murderer Christopher Ewing As a Result of Opinion Issued in 2016
Charges Against Nevada Inmate Follow AG Laxalt’s 2016 Official Attorney General Opinion and Cross-Jurisdictional Collaboration with Colorado
August 10, 2018

Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt issued the following statement concerning multiple newly filed cold case murder charges in Colorado against Nevada inmate Christopher Ewing. According to an affidavit for arrest warrant filed in Colorado, these cold case murders from 1984 were cracked using a DNA sample collected from Ewing as a result of a December 12, 2016 opinion by Attorney General Laxalt’s Office. AG Laxalt’s 2016 opinion clarifies that Senate Bill (SB) 243 applies all to convicted felons in Nevada’s prisons—even felons convicted before the bill was signed into law.
STUDENT SAFETY
Schuette Releases July OK2SAY Numbers, Encourages Schools to Sign Up for Fall Presentations
August 13, 2018
 
With the start of a new school year quickly approaching, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is reminding students, parents, and teachers to continue using OK2SAY. The student safety program has been a great success — even in the summer months. In June and July, OK2SAY received 510 tips.
The highest number of tips for July are as follows:
  • Suicide Threat – 61
  • Cyberbullying – 15
  • Self-harm – 12
  • Threats – 12
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Court Agrees with Ferguson that EPA Cannot Allow Use of Dangerous Neurotoxic Pesticide
August 9, 2018
 
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit  agreed   with Attorney General Bob Ferguson that the Environmental Protection Agency improperly halted a scientific safety review of the neurotoxic pesticide chlorpyrifos, allowing the continued use of the pesticide at potentially dangerous levels.

The court reversed the EPA’s decision to allow continued use of chlorpyrifos, and ordered the EPA to revoke all uses on food within 60 days. In its decision, the court wrote, "There was no justification for the EPA’s decision in its 2017 order to maintain a tolerance for chlorpyrifos in the face of scientific evidence that its residue on food causes neurodevelopmental damage to children."
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Welcome to the Sponsor Spotlight, where each week CWAG will celebrate one of our private sector partners.

We are the next generation of fintech. While some lenders rely upon a complex and inefficient network of third party providers to fill their business needs, at AWL all services are in-house, including customer support, risk/analytics, marketing, operations, project management and compliance. AWL, Inc. was created in October 2016 as the result of a merger with MacFarlane Group. This recent transaction will strengthen the company, open more avenues for our business and allow us to more effectively assist underbanked Americans.
AILD
Updated American Indian Law Deskbook Is Now Available

The American Indian Law Deskbook  is a concise, direct, and easy-to-understand handbook on Indian law. The chapter authors of this book are experienced state lawyers who have been involved in Indian law for many years.

American Indian Law Deskbook  addresses the areas of Indian law most relevant to the practitioner.
Topics include:
  • Definitions of Indians and Indian tribes
  • Indian lands
  • Criminal, civil regulatory, and civil adjudicatory jurisdiction
  • Civil rights
  • Indian water rights
  • Fish and wildlife
  • Environmental regulation
  • Taxation
  • Gaming
  • Indian Child Welfare Act and tribal-state cooperative agreements
AG ELECTION TRACKER
Follow the 31 AG Races in 2018 on this Interactive Website
A significant number of states, 30 and the District of Columbia, have contests for the Office of Attorney General. Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General Practice hosts an interactive map for those interested in following the races throughout the country. The State AG Election Tracker includes state-by-state AG candidate snapshots, filing deadlines and primary election dates; daily news, insights, polling and fundraising data; and the ability to sign up for real-time election-night updates via text and email. Access is free.
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