AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today that the Superior Court in Kennebec County upheld Maine?s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) in the face of constitutional challenges.

In a 70-page decision, the Superior Court rejected claims that SORNA is an unconstitutional ex post facto law; is void for vagueness; violates procedural and substantive due process; or is unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment. The court went on to reject Plaintiffs? argument that SORNA violated the Declaration of Rights in Maine?s Constitution.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today that Maine reached an agreement with Texas debt settlement company Credit Solutions of America, Inc. (CSA) and its owner Douglas Van Arsdale to settle allegations of unfair trade practices. (View Consent Judgment)

After two days of trial that began July 18th, CSA agreed to enter into a consent judgment to resolve claims that they violated the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act with an advance fee debt settlement scheme.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today that Brian Bartley, 59, of Kennebunkport, was convicted on all counts in a 20 count indictment that included charges of theft of sales tax, income tax evasion, theft by deception and unemployment fraud.

AUGUSTA ? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products announced an agreement with the state of Maine to assure compliance with federal laws surrounding the sale and distribution of tobacco to minors.

AUGUSTA ?Maine Attorney General William Schneider, along with 37 other attorneys general, reached a $40.75 million settlement with drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, LLC (GSK) and SB Pharmco Puerto Rico, Inc. (SB) arising from allegations that the companies used substandard manufacturing processes at their plant in Cidra, Puerto Rico. The settlement includes $585,127 for Maine.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider alerts credit card customers of Citibank N.A. (Citi) that a recent breach of security resulted in the unauthorized access to personal information of at least 703 Maine Citi credit card customer accounts.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today that Maine reached an agreement with Danish pharmaceutical manufacturer Novo Nordisk Inc. to settle allegations of submitting false claims for its hemostasis management drug NovoSeven to MaineCare, the Maine Medicaid program.

State Medicaid programs nationwide will receive approximately $3.5 million of the $25 million settlement resolving civil liability arising out of Novo Nordisk?s off-label promotion of its bleeding disorder drug. Maine will receive approximately $22,000 as a result of the settlement.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today that Maine reached an agreement with pharmaceutical manufacturer UCB Inc. (UCB) to settle allegations of submitting false claims for its epilepsy drug Keppra to MaineCare, the Maine Medicaid program.

Medicaid programs nationwide will receive approximately $25.7 million of the $34 million settlement resolving criminal and civil liability arising out of UCB?s off-label promotion of its anti-epileptic drug. Maine will receive approximately $43,000 as a result of the settlement.

AUGUSTA ? A Naples man?s conviction for tax related theft was affirmed by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today.

Michael A. Skarbinski, age 50, appealed from a judgment of conviction entered in the Cumberland County Superior Court, following a jury trial in March 2010. Superior Court Justice Roland Beaudoin found Skarbinski guilty of one count of theft by deception (Class C); two counts of criminal attempted theft by deception (Class D); and three counts of making and subscribing false tax returns (Class D).

AUGUSTA ? A Biddeford man pled guilty and was sentenced on charges he violated the Maine Civil Rights Act, Attorney General William J. Schneider announced.

Adam D. Goodwin, age 36, pled guilty in York County Superior Court in Alfred to assault, interference with constitutional and civil rights, and a criminal violation of a civil rights injunction. Following the plea, Superior Court Justice G. Arthur Brennan sentenced Goodwin to nine months in the York County Jail.