Announcements, information & updates from the Attorney General Alliance Members and Associates
March 25, 2022
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This convening will bring together a variety of stakeholders shaping the direction of this industry with the State Attorneys General Community. The Cannabis Project Spring Meeting will focus on combatting illicit market activity and understanding social equity programs. |
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This seminar provides the unique opportunity to discuss the emerging challenges faced by brand owners and government agencies in combating illicit trade and counterfeiting. This seminar will offer the chance to share strategies, examples and innovative new ideas through interactive panel discussions, case studies and presentations. |
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The US/Mexico Binational Attorney General Summit will provide a forum for state Attorneys General from the United States and Mexico, as well as federal agencies and private sector partners to share experiences and advances in border issues. The Summit provides a forum for collaboration at the state, national and binational level on diverse topics such as human trafficking, intellectual property, cannabis, money laundering, asset forfeiture, and cybercrime in the U.S. and Mexico.
Each of the state Attorneys General from Mexico and the United States will be able to participate in this binational exchange. If you are interested in joining us for the US/Mexico Binational Attorney General Summit please reach out to Ale Stephens at astephens@agalliance.org.
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Please see the list below for upcoming AG Alliance events. We look forward to your continued participation and support in 2022. Detailed information regarding registration for each event will be forthcoming. If you would like more information on any of these events, please contact astephens@agalliance.org.
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ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME WORKING GROUP |
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The Attorney General Alliance Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Working Group recently held a meeting on March 17, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. ORC Working Group Co-Chairs Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr facilitated task force presentations and a roundtable discussion intended to educate and inform State Attorneys General, their staff and business partners on how to identify and combat the recent trend of organized retail criminals targeting businesses. AG Raoul and Carr were joined by New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas and South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg in the task force presentations and a roundtable discussion.
The Attorneys General community was represented by Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont and Virginia. The task force welcomed partnering sponsors from 1800CONTACTS, Altria Client Services, Amazon, Brightstone Bridge, Bruning Law Group, Catalyst, Cozen O'Connor, Lowe's Companies, McDaniel Wolff & Benca, PLLC, OfferUp Inc., Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Patrick Lynch Group, LLC, PMI Global Services, Target, The Home Depot, Troutman Pepper, UPS, Walgreens, and Walmart.
AGA and the Attorneys General brought attention to this crucial issue affecting businesses all over the United States; discussing the importance of the investigation and prosecution of these retail criminals.
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*Correction: Last week this photo was attached and attributed to an article on SB 24. Please note, the correct information on the accurate HB 1099 is included below. |
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Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser joined Colorado Governor Jared Polis in signing into law legislation that seeks to crack down on stolen and counterfeit products being anonymously sold online.
Beginning in 2023, House Bill 1099 will require some third-party sellers to provide identifying information to the online marketplace they’re using and to the person they’re selling to. Supporters said the bill will address retail theft ranging from porch pirates to large, organized smash-and-grabs by cutting off the ability to resell stolen goods. This comes as retail crime is rising both statewide and nationally.
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Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued testimony in support of Senate Bill No. 257: An Act Concerning High Volume Third-Party Sellers on Online Marketplaces. The legislation seeks to require high volume third-party sellers on online marketplaces to disclose certain information on the marketplaces and to consumers. If passed, the legislation would be an important first step in combatting the growing problem organized retail crime.
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"Organized retail crime is not your run-of-the mill shoplifting. Crime rings, often operating across state lines, recruit local residents to participate in the theft of large quantities of these everyday products. Now, instead of taking the stolen goods to a pawn shop or selling them off the back of a truck, these sophisticated organizations lease warehouses and list the goods for sale on the major online platforms, and they electronically fence the products."
--Attorney Genral William Tong
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Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Micah Allen Pierce, 35, Jesse Raul Henderson, 31, and Clint Anthony Anaya, 39, were convicted for operating a retail theft scheme where they stole $28,000 in ceiling fans from home improvement stores and resold them on an online Marketplace.
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office recently launched an Organized Retail Crime Task Force with the support of the Arizona Legislature. The Task Force is one of the first such prosecutorial units in the country dedicated to combating crimes relating to stolen retail merchandise being resold or reentered into commerce.
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Attorney General Kwame Raoul convened a meeting with representatives of law enforcement agencies, the retail industry and lawmakers to discuss collaborations to strengthen investigations and prosecutions of individuals and enterprises involved in organized retail crime.
The meeting is part of his Organized Retail Crime Task Force’s work to enhance cooperation among retailers, online marketplaces, law enforcement agencies and state’s attorneys.
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“The effects of organized retail crime are not limited to any one region of our state, particularly when the sales of stolen merchandise often fund additional criminal activity – such as the drug trade and human trafficking. Organized retail crime is a complex issue that will require a multifaceted solution, such as providing law enforcement with tools that will improve investigations and increase successful prosecutions.”
--Attorney General Kwame Raoul
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New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas recently announced that an apprehended serial shoplifter will be held behind bars until trial, because the "Flash Mob" criminal is a danger to the community and the prosecution of a violent serial shoplifter recently arrested and awaiting extradition from Beckham County, Oklahoma. New Mexico has also launched an Organized Retail Crime Task Force due to the recent activity in the state.
The investigation involved the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General, Albuquerque Police Department, and asset protection personnel from the retail community.
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“Another armed felon is off the streets, and the Organized Retail Crime Task Force will continue to expand to reduce the level of violence in our communities."
--Attorney General Hector Balderas
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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and her Office announced a resolution with the operator of four pharmacies accused of price gouging COVID-19 test kits in February.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said her office reached an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance agreement with the operator of Birch Run Drugs, Maplewood Pharmacy in Bay City and two other Michigan pharmacies.
Value Center Pharmacy II in Madison Heights and Skip's Pharmacy in Holland were selling iHealth at-home COVID-19 test kits for more than four times the retail price. Customers at the two pharmacies complained to the Attorney General's Office, leading to an investigation.
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Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit against Seattle-based US Stemology and its owner for deceptively marketing stem cell treatments for COVID-19 and dozens of other serious medical conditions, including asthma, lupus, Parkinson’s, congestive heart failure and multiple sclerosis. There is no reliable clinical evidence stem cell therapy can effectively treat these conditions
Ferguson’s lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, asserts US Stemology violated the Washington Consumer Protection Act by deceptively marketing stem cell treatments for serious conditions without scientific evidence. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties and asks the court to order US Stemology and Meraglia to pay full restitution to consumers.
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A coalition of 19 state attorneys general, to include New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, joined together in a comment letter calling on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen protections against lead poisoning, particularly for children living in low-income communities and communities of color. In comments on the EPA’s “Draft Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities,” the coalition called the draft strategy a “strong starting point.” However, the coalition lays out specific recommendations for how EPA should bolster the plan to more aggressively and comprehensively combat the many ways in which children are exposed to lead.
The coalition credits the EPA’s Draft Lead Strategy for identifying government-led approaches to increasing public health protections, addressing legacy lead contamination for communities with the greatest exposures, and promoting environmental justice. However, the coalition’s comments identify numerous other measures necessary to strengthen the Strategy by aggressively targeting hazards posed by lead in paint, drinking water, soils, aviation fuel, air, food, and through occupational and take-home exposures.
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Missed our live programs? No problem! Follow the button below to visit our Virtual Seminar Library for access to all recordings.
Do you have a webinar topic suggestion? We want to hear from you! Please email ideas to Patricia Salazar at PSalazar@AGAlliance.org.
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CWAG Executive Committee
AG Alliance Co-Chairs
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Attorney General Alliance 5050 | Laguna Blvd., Ste. 112-323 | Elk Grove, CA 95758
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