Attorney Generals News Release

July 21, 1995

Sting operation nabs 156 in Jasper County

Jefferson City, Mo. — A week-long undercover sting operation conducted jointly by Attorney General Jay Nixon and Jasper County Sheriff W.J. “Bill” Pierce ended today, clearing 230 warrants and netting 156 people wanted by county authorities.

Dubbed “Operation Lam Scam,” the sting targeted individuals sought by the Jasper County Sheriff's Department on a variety of charges, including rape, felony stealing, assault and drug charges. A total of 156 arrests were made through the end of the day Thursday, with 77 of those for felony charges and 230 outstanding warrants served.

Among those arrested was an Oklahoma man wanted for rape. Fugitives came in from Missouri and 10 other states including Arizona, Oregon and Wisconsin. Warrants were served on 66 people from out of state, Pierce said.

“Those who thought they could beat the system learned a tough lesson,” Nixon said. “As law enforcement officers, it is our job to take the criminals off the street and put them behind bars where they belong. The success of this operation is an example of what can happen when law enforcement agencies work smarter and work together in the fight against crime.”

A letter from the fictitious Missouri Department of Consumer Services informed fugitives that they were eligible for cash awards as the result of a class action consumer lawsuit brought by the Attorney General's Office against a national sweepstakes company. The letter instructed recipients to contact “Chris Carter,” who was identified as the executive director of the department, in order to schedule an appointment to pick up their checks.

A temporary claims office was set up in northeast Joplin. Undercover officers from the Jasper County Sheriff's Department acted as receptionists and office staff. Other deputies waited in a back room, ready to arrest, book and take fugitives to jail.

Operation Lam Scam resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of fugitives arrested and warrants cleared, said Sheriff Pierce, whose department usually arrests an average of 10 to 12 fugitives with outstanding warrants a week.

“This has been an extremely efficient operation and a safe operation,” Pierce said. “Tracking down and apprehending a fugitive is one of the most dangerous aspects of our work in law enforcement. This operation allowed us to bring them into a controlled environment where arrests were safely made.”

In addition to the warrants cleared from the Lam Scam arrests, more than $155,000 was collected in bail money from those posting bond. The approximate out-of-pocket expenses for the two law enforcement agencies was less than $3,000.

Pierce said the operation provided the Sheriff's Department an opportunity to collect fines and clear warrants of a number of people with bad checks and other misdemeanor charges. The effort resulted in a bonus of providing restitution to small businesses in Jasper County that have been victimized by check bouncers.

“This is no small matter to the businesses who have been ripped off by those who write bad checks,” Pierce said. Several fugitives arrested were required to post up to $5,000 bond for bad checks.

Both Pierce and Nixon agreed the operation's success depended on the cooperative effort of the Attorney General's Office and the Sheriff's Department.

“The Attorney General's Office provided the logistical support and behind-the-scenes resources to lend credibility to the project and get it up and running,” Pierce said.

“The high degree of professionalism demonstrated throughout this operation is a credit to Sheriff Pierce and the entire department,” Nixon said.

This was the third Operation Lam Scam conducted by the Attorney General's Office in conjunction with a county sheriff during the past year. Similar operations were held in Jefferson and Clay counties.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818