Alleges man engaged in multiple fraudulent schemes, stole more than $15K

OLYMPIA — The Attorney General’s Office today filed charges in King County Superior Court against a Federal Way man the state alleges fraudulently obtained more than  $15,000 from the state and federal government in three different schemes involving Medicaid, food stamps and social security.

Prosecutors with the Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) charged Han-Bae Kim with:

OLYMPIA—Stevens County Judge Pat Monasmith today sentenced former Colville Police Officer Rex Newport to 29 months in prison and 36 months in community custody after Newport pled guilty to several felonies and misdemeanors in February.

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee today announced that he is appointing Tanya Thorp to King County Superior Court.
 

AGO & BBB help consumers during Financial Literacy Month

SEATTLE—The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has teamed up with Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington for Financial Literacy Month.

Issues proposed revision to 2010 Consent Decree
AGO joint release with the Governor's Office and Department of Ecology

OLYMPIA – Governor Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson today issued new demands to the U.S. Department of Energy to ensure timely Hanford cleanup in the form of a proposed plan to revise the 2010 Consent Decree. The proposal aims to prevent the federal government from delaying cleanup of Hanford’s radioactive and hazardous tank waste.

OLYMPIA—Trial starts today in Kitsap County Superior Court as the Attorney General’s Office seeks to keep a Kitsap County sex predator confined at Washington’s Special Commitment Center for sexually violent predators.

Elmer “Todd” Gillis, 49, was convicted of three sexual offenses between 1983 and 1993. He has been continuously confined either at the Special Commitment Center or at the Secure Community Transition Facility on McNeil Island since 1997.

As allowed under the law, Gillis is now asking the court for unconditional release into the community.

Opinion states Initiative 1185 does not remove the Transportation Commission’s pre-existing authority to set ferry fares and toll rates

SEATTLE — Legal action taken by the Washington State Attorney General (AGO) against foreclosure trustee Quality Loan Service Corp. of Washington (QLS) has stopped unfair and deceptive business practices. QLS is one of the largest foreclosure trustees in Washington state.

It is estimated more than 450 homeowners will receive approximately $500 each.

In addition, a moratorium was placed on all QLS foreclosures on February 27 and will extend through April 3, 2014. The AGO estimates hundreds of homeowners will benefit from this moratorium.

New laws will help protect veterans against Pension Poacher scams and increase economic protections for military servicemembers

OLYMPIA —Two bills requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson to protect veterans and military families were signed into law today by Governor Jay Inslee. The bills received broad bipartisan support. The new laws will take effect June 12, 2014.
 
Economic protection for Washington’s military personnel and veterans

Requires training for thousands of public officials to improve transparency and reduce lawsuits

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s bill to strengthen Washington state’s open government laws by requiring training for public officials was signed into law today by Governor Jay Inslee with strong bipartisan support. The law takes effect July 1, 2014.

Ferguson worked with Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, and Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle, to secure legislative approval of the “Open Government Trainings Act.”