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.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Supreme Court?s decision to grant certiorari and hear challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider issued the following statement today:

?The Maine Attorney General?s Office is investigating the deadly shooting of Eric Richard, 46, an administrative officer with the Rumford Police Department.

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.?

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.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that a former Kittery redemption center owner was sentenced to 21 months in jail, all but 21 days suspended, and two years of probation for his role in a large-scale bottle redemption fraud scheme.

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.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that Dennis Caris, 54, of Old Orchard Beach was convicted on all counts in a four count indictment charging him with felony Theft by Misapplication of Sales Tax, along with Failure to Truthfully Collect, Account, and Pay Over Sales Tax, all occurring from January 2007 to October 2009.

AUGUSTA ? With federal officials expecting record breaking oil prices this year, Attorney General William J. Schneider urges consumers to educate and protect themselves.

Starting every October, the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) provides pricing information through the State Heating Oil and Propane Program, a weekly joint data collection effort between EIA and states in the Northeast and Midwest for the winter season.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that Alan Harding, 58, of Presque Isle was convicted following his no contest plea on all counts in a 12 count complaint charging Failure to Make and File Maine Income Tax Returns and Failure to Pay Maine Income Tax for tax years 2004 through 2009.