Attorney General's News Release

December 16, 2005

Nixon obtains temporary restraining order to stop fraudulent magazine subscription scheme by Joplin pair

Columbia, Mo. — A Boone County judge today issued a temporary restraining order against two men who Attorney General Jay Nixon is accusing of operating a fraudulent magazine subscription scheme.

In his lawsuit, Nixon alleges Kameron C. Johnson and Jason E. Cogbill, owners of Creek House Subscription, went door to door soliciting the sale of magazine subscriptions in counties in central and southwest Missouri but then failed to deliver the magazines to consumers. Both Johnson and Cogbill have a Joplin address as their current listed residence.

Nixon requested the temporary restraining order after receiving more than 60 complaints against the men from consumers in Boone, Callaway, Camden, Christian, Cole and Greene counties. Consumers reported they paid more than $4,200 for magazines that they never received. The defendants also falsely claimed to be students from the University of Missouri-Columbia and Missouri State University in Springfield.

The temporary restraining order issued by Circuit Judge Gene Hamilton prohibits the defendants from soliciting and accepting funds for the purchase of magazine subscriptions. The lawsuit filed by the Attorney General seeks payment of full restitution for all consumers who paid for fraudulent subscriptions. Nixon is also asking the court to issue an order requiring the defendants to pay civil penalties to the state for violating state consumer protection laws.

A hearing on Nixon's request for an injunction is scheduled for Jan. 6.

Nixon is asking consumers who have been defrauded to contact his Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222 or go to his Web site at www.ago.mo.gov to file a complaint.

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