Office of the Maine Attorney General

Brunswick Woman Convicted For Stealing $60,000 in Food Stamps and Child Care Reimbursement Benefits

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that Sarah E. Fairbanks, 40, of Brunswick, was convicted after a two day jury trial in Cumberland County Superior Court on November 30, 2012 on all counts in a three count indictment charging her with Theft by Deception and Unsworn Falsification.

Fairbanks was convicted of stealing almost $60,000 in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps) and Child Care Development Fund Voucher Program (CCDF) from January 2005 through May 2010.

Dietary Supplements Companies Settle Unfair Trade Practices Claims

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today that the State reached an agreement with Maine acai supplement LLCs Grapevine, Great Berry, Vitality, and 3V Marketing and their managers Ryan E. Dall and Eric R. Crouse (Grapevine) to settle allegations of unfair trade practices.

A complaint and consent decree were filed in Kennebec County Superior Court on November 16, 2011, resolving claims that Grapevine violated the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act with internet marketing sales using ?free? or ?risk free? offers that were misleading and deceptive.

Attorney General Schneider Warns Consumers of Credit Card Interest Rate Reduction Scams

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider is warning consumers about reports of pre-recorded phone calls from companies claiming to be able to help lower the interest rate on your credit card.

?There are reports from Maine consumers who have received the automated phone calls asking individuals to enter their debit or credit card number,? said Attorney General Schneider. ?Never provide any personal banking information based on an automated phone call. If you get one of these robo-calls, immediately hang up and contact our consumer hotline.?

$1.3 Million in Sales and Fuel Taxes Diverted By Former Bath Fuel Company President To Be Recovered

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that the state will recover $1.3 million in sales, gasoline and special fuel taxes that were diverted by Philip Sewall, former president of M.W. Sewall & Co.

Philip Sewall was found guilty today in West Bath District Court on three counts of failure to pay the taxes collected and fined $2,000 on each count. The Court ordered Sewall to pay $50,000 within 12 months in addition to the $225,000 he has already paid to Maine Revenue Services.

Attorney General Schneider Joins National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the State Attorneys General and Ad Council to Unveil New Public Service Advertising Campaign to Urge Young Adult Drivers to ?Stop the Texts? and ?Stop the Wrecks?

New National Survey Shows Eighty-Two Percent of Young Adults Say They Have Read a Standard Text Message While Driving

AUGUSTA ? In an effort to educate young drivers about the dangers of texting while driving, Attorney General William J. Schneider announces that the State Attorneys General and Consumer Protection agencies, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Ad Council are launching a new public service advertising campaign (PSA) nationwide.

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