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TRAGIC BREACH OF FAMILY TRUST -MAN SENTENCED FOR STEALING FROM BLIND & AGING MOTHER
For Immediate Release
June 20, 2008
From the Office of the A.G.
A Holladay man was sentenced today to one year in jail for stealing
more than $237,000 from his aging and blind mother who had trusted him
to help manage her finances. Grant Keith Aagard, 51, pleaded guilty to
one third-degree felony count of abuse, neglect or exploitation of a
vulnerable adult and three third-degree felony counts of theft by
deception. Aagard was also ordered to pay full restitution.
“It is one of the most reprehensible acts of greed and abuse of trust
imaginable,” says Robert Steed, the Assistant Attorney General who
prosecuted the case. “It is a tragic breach of family trust to
satisfy your own greed by exploiting a vulnerable relative.”
In 1997, Aagard began forging letters to an insurance company to gain
access to over $80,000 in his mother’s annuity retirement account.
Aagard began handling his mother’s financial affairs in 2002 and
started using her checking account for his personal use.
When the victim started getting medical bills in 2004, Aagard convinced
his mother to obtain a reverse mortgage on her home. Aagard paid the
medical bills but spent the majority of the reverse mortgage money on
himself. Aagard also kept his mother’s tax returns and even pawned
some of his mother’s jewelry.
“In our society, we witness those who rob, steal and defraud others
for personal gain, but this case evokes even greater feelings of outrage
and disdain,” says Attorney General Mark Shurleff. “To steal from
one’s own mother, who is blind and totally trusting and vulnerable is
beyond belief.”
Aagard, was investigated by the Utah Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
(MFCU), a specialized unit within the Attorney Generals Office.
Investigators and prosecutors recently handled several cases involving
family members who have defrauded their parents or grandparents by
taking advantage of their position of trust. For example, Judy Gibson,
was sentenced in April to 30 days in jail for spending more than
$238,000 from accounts belonging to her aged aunt.
In such cases, the Attorney General’s Office seeks to punish the
offenders through aggressive prosecution while also trying to recoup as
much restitution as possible to take care of the victims. “These
elderly victims have saved over their lifetimes so that they have the
money necessary to care for themselves,” says Steed. “We will do
everything we can to stop these horrible crimes.”
MFCU handles allegations of fraud against the Medicaid system as well
as protecting patients who reside in board and care facilities from
abuse, neglect and exploitation. More information about MFCU is
available at http://www.attorneygeneral.utah.gov/145.html. Booking
photos and court records will be posted at http://www.attorneygeneral.utah.gov/913.html.
Friday, June 20th, 2008 — Posted by Jessica
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FINANCIAL STUDY GIVES SHURTLEFF AN “A” FOR TACKLING FORECLOSURE
For Immediate Release
Office of the Attorney General
June 12, 2008
A group that is fighting the country’s foreclosure crisis is giving
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff an “A” for his efforts to help
homeowners. The new report by the ACORN Financial Justice Center
included a survey and scorecard for all 51 attorneys general. The
grades were based on answers to nine questions concerning actions and
knowledge about widespread foreclosures.
"I am honored to be one of the few attorneys general to receive an A
from ACORN for my office's efforts to protect the citizens of Utah from
mortgage fraudsters, unscrupulous brokers and predatory lenders,” says
Mark Shurtleff. “We will continue to investigate, prosecute and sue
anyone who tries to harm Utah homeowners.”
In 2004, the Utah Attorney General’s Office launched a massive
investigation into criminals using stolen social security numbers to
commit mortgage fraud. Shurtleff is also on the State Attorney General
Foreclosure Prevention Working Group. The group is seeking:
* Transparency and disclosures from mortgage loan services
* A ban on foreclosure filings from lenders who have been found by
a court to have a pattern and practice of 'presumptively unfair'
predatory lending
* Voluntary assistance from lending services to stay foreclosures
against borrowers who are seeking assistance
* An agreement with lenders and services on ‘best practices’
that can move struggling families away from foreclosure and into
affordable monthly payments
ACORN Financial Justice Center recently opened an office in Utah.
ACORN is the nation’s largest community organization of low and
moderate-income individuals. The organization recently received a $7.8
million grant to help homeowners find solutions to avoid foreclosure.
“I will continue to work with ACORN to educate the public about the
risks of mortgage fraud and foreclosure rescue scams,” pledges
Shurtleff.
ACORN’s foreclosure-prevention hotline is 866-67-ACORN. The Utah
ACORN office can be reached at 801-532-2225.
Monday, June 16th, 2008 — Posted by Jessica
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TWO COMPANIES PAY TO CLEAN UP CONTAMINATED SITE IN DAVIS COUNTY
For Immediate Release
June 5, 2008
Contact
Paul Murphy
Utah Attorney:
(801) 538-1892
pmurphy@utah.gov
The state of Utah has received $150,000 from two companies to cover
state clean up costs at a contaminated site in Bountiful and Woods
Cross. The area at 500 South 800 West was used to service and clean
tractor-trailers and tank trucks from 1936 to 1986. The Hatch
property had numerous spills, leaks and direct releases of petroleum
products, solvents and metal degreasers.
The Utah Attorney General™s Office has a duty to make sure the
air, water and land in our state is clean, says Attorney General Mark
Shurtleff. This payment is proof that we also take seriously our
duty to make sure taxpayers are not left holding the bag when it comes
time to clean up any pollutants.
The payment is coming from Jack B. Kelley, Inc., a Texas Corporation
and W.S. Hatch Company, a former Utah Corporation. Both companies were
specialized carriers of asphalt, bulk petroleum, petroleum products and
solvents like toluene and xylene. The site had a French drain that was
used to release contaminated materials. The new commuter rail now runs
through the property.
“We believe the payment of the $150,000 is a fair settlement with
these companies to pay their share of the state™s costs, says
Sandra Allen, the assistant attorney general who negotiated the
settlement agreement.
The Environmental Protection Agency designated the 50 acre area as a
Superfund Site on September 13, 2001. The EPA presented a proposed
cleanup plan to the state to clean up the site. Under federal law, EPA
pays 90% of the costs and the state of Utah must commit to pay 10% of
the costs for the cleanup to proceed. The $150,000 will be used toward
paying the state™s 10% share.
Friday, June 6th, 2008 — Posted by Jessica
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WALGREENS PAYS UTAH $42,000 FOR SWITCHING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
For Immediate Release
From the Office of the Attorney General
June 4, 2008
Walgreens has agreed to pay $42,000 to the Utah Medicaid Program to
settle allegations of improper billing. Utah Attorney General Mark
Shurtleff announced today that the payment is part of a $35 million
settlement with Walgreen Co. and the United States and 42 states. The
settlement resolves claims that Walgreens violated state and federal
statutes and regulations by switching dosage forms of three medications
commonly prescribed for Medicaid patients. The switch caused Medicaid
programs nationwide to pay substantially more for these drugs.
This settlement is one more example of how we will be vigilant in
protecting the integrity of the Medicaid Program and making sure
companies do not profit by taking advantage of the people who rely on
Medicaid, said Attorney General Mark Shurteff.Walgreens operates
retail pharmacies in 48 states and Puerto Rico. Today™s settlement is
the result of a joint federal-state investigation arising from the
filing of a false claims act lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Chicago
in 2003. The whistleblower™s complaint alleged Walgreens filled
prescriptions for numerous Medicaid recipients by aggressively switching
dosage forms of:
* Ranitidine---generic form of the anti-ulcer drug Zantac
* Fluoxetine---generic form of the anti-depressant Prozac
* Selegiline-generic form of Eldepryl, used in the treatment of
Parkinsons disease and senile dementia.
Government investigators contend that these improper switching
practices continued from July 2001 through 2005 and resulted in higher
Medicaid reimbursement payments without any medical benefits and without
physician involvement.
We will continue to police the Medicaid Program to assure that
those who provide prescription drugs to Medicaid clients are obeying the
law, says Robert Steed, the Director of the Medicaid Fraud Control
Unit. Steed represented Utah in this negotiation.
This settlement is the third and final in a series resulting from
investigations of similar conduct by pharmacy providers nationwide.
Together, the three cases have brought back more than $120 million to
Medicaid programs around the country.
The Utah Attorney General's Office oversees the Medicaid Fraud Control
Unit to protect the integrity of Utah's Medicaid program. The public can
learn more about Medicaid fraud or report abuse at http://www.attorneygeneral.utah.gov/145.html.
Thursday, June 5th, 2008 — Posted by Jessica
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ATTORNEY GENERAL PLANS TO SMASH CHILD PORN
ATTORNEY GENERAL PLANS TO SMASH CHILD PORN
Press Release from the Attorney Generals Office
Who: Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, members of the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Utah State Legislators and other invited quests
What: The Attorney General, members of the ICAC Task Force and state legislators will use sledgehammers to destroy approximately 20 computers that have been used for possessing or distributing child pornography. Two investigators and a Utah student will also be honored for their efforts to protect children.
When: 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 23, 2008
Where: ICAC Task Force Headquarters, 5272 South College Drive, Murray
Monday, May 19th, 2008 — Posted by Jessica
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AG working to make Facebook Safer for Minors
SHURTLEFF SIGNS AGREEMENT TO MAKE FACEBOOK SAFER FOR UNDERAGE USERS
Press Release
May 8, 2008
Contact Scott Troxel
(801) 538-1753
Attorney General Mark Shurtleff says a new agreement with Facebook is an
important step that will help keep children safe on the Internet. The
attorneys general of 49 states and the District of Columbia today
announced that Facebook has agreed to participate in a task force that
will try and find ways to better protect children from predators and
inappropriate content on social networking sites.
"Kids may be putting themselves in harm's way on social networking sites
like Facebook because they can never be 100% sure who they are
communicating with online,"says Shurtleff. "This agreement recognizes
the intentions of Facebook to try and protect children."
The agreement is similar to one MySpace reached in January. MySpace
agreed to head the task force, which Facebook has joined, to explore and
develop age and identification tools for social networking sites. Under
the agreement Facebook has agreed to make several changes, including:
• Strengthening software that identifies and protects underage
users and their identities;
• More rigid enforcement of its safety and privacy guidelines for
3rd party applications used on Facebook;
• Obtaining and constantly updating a list of pornographic web
sites and regularly severing any links between those sites and Facebook;
• Requiring users under 18 to affirm they have read Facebook's
safety tips when they sign up;
The Attorney General's Office is also helping to teach parents and kids
about the dangers on social networking sites. The Utah Internet Crimes
Against Children Task Force (ICAC) offers an education program that
teaches children and parents how to stay safe on the Internet. For more
information about ICAC please visit
www.attorneygeneral.utah.gov/ICAC/icacmain.html.
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 — Posted by Jessica
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MEDIA & POLYGAMY: TELLING THE STORY: A.G. TOWN HALL WILL EXPLORE MEDIA EXPOSURE AND MORE
Polygamy and the roles of the media and government will be explored in a Town Hall Meeting in St. George. This will be the fourth Town Hall Meeting concerning polygamy for Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.
“We started this discussion five years ago and this will be a good chance to reflect on where we have gone and where we need to go,” says Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.
The Attorneys General of Utah and Arizona will be joined for a panel discussion by Arizona State Representative David Lujan, Centennial Park resident Don Timpson and Utah Safety Net Coordinator Paul Murphy. The public will be invited to attend and participate.
"Previous Town Halls have all been productive, and this year's will be an important opportunity to strengthen relations between law enforcement and the Colorado City/Hildale community," says Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.
The Town Hall Meeting will follow a half-day training session for members of polygamous communities, journalists, law enforcement officers and social service providers working with plural families. The training session has two goals:
* Help journalists seek truth and report it; minimize harm; act independently; and be held accountable.
* Help polygamists and people working with polygamists provide information in a way that is accurate, fair and minimizes harm, especially to children.
Both events are being sponsored by the Utah-Arizona Safety Net Committee, which brings together government agencies, non-profit organizations and interested individuals together to “open up communication, break down barriers and coordinate efforts to give people associated with the practice of polygamy equal access to justice, safety and services.”
What: Town Hall Meeting
When: 7:00-9:00 p.m., Thursday, May 8, 2008
What: Media Training Session
When: 1:00-5:00 p.m, Thursday May 8, 2008
Where: Both events will be at the Dixie Center, 1835 Convention Center Drive, St. George, Utah
Monday, May 5th, 2008 — Posted by Jessica
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OPEN LETTER FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL'S TO SENATOR REID
Press Release: Paul Murphy, Attorney General's Office
Attorneys General Seek Federal Help with Polygamy-Related Crimes
(Phoenix, Ariz. – April 30, 2008) Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard today sent a joint letter to Sen.
Harry Reid, D-NV, asking his assistance in arranging a meeting with the
U.S. Department of Justice to discuss how the federal government can
help the states with polygamy-related investigations and prosecutions.
Reid, the U.S. Senate Majority Leader, expressed concerns about the
lack of law enforcement in the Colorado City/Hildale region to Radio
West in Salt Lake City earlier this week. His comments prompted calls
with Goddard and Shurtleff in an effort to correct the record and gain
more federal cooperation.
The two Attorneys General also requested Reid’s assistance with
requests made to the U.S. Department of Justice for a civil rights
investigation and an investigation into possible IRS violations. They
further asked for Reid’s support in securing a grant for the Safe
Passage program which assists victims of domestic abuse.
View the letter by clicking here
Monday, May 5th, 2008 — Posted by Jessica
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