RUTLEDGE ANNOUNCES INVESTIGATION OF GOFUNDME FOR DENYING DONATIONS FOR FREEDOM CONVOY OF TRUCKERS
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced the investigation into GoFundMe for potential violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (ADTPA). Supporters of the truckers’ protest against vaccine mandates in Ottawa, Canada, have donated more than $10 million dollars through the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe. Because the company disagrees with the protest, it recently announced that it would unilaterally end the fundraiser and either refund the money given by the donors or redirect those funds to other causes. Click here for more information
RUTLEDGE ANNOUNCES ARREST OF SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS MAYOR
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced the arrest of Glenwood Mayor Billy T. Smith by Special Agents in the Public Integrity Division of the Attorney General’s Office. A thorough investigation showed that Smith abused state and city resources in August 2021 when he hired a private company to transport almost $4,000 worth of asphalt millings leftover from the Arkansas Highway 70 resurfacing project to his home and that of his son-in-law for purposes of resurfacing their private driveways. For more information, click here.
CLARK COUNTY CAREGIVER SENTENCED TO JAIL FOLLOWING ABUSE GUILTY PLEA
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced Mikel Noel, a caregiver from Clark County, pleaded guilty to abusing an individual in his care. Noel was convicted of two felonies: Battery in the Second Degree and Abuse of an Adult Endangered or Impaired Person. He was sentenced to 120 days in the Clark County jail in addition to probation for five years, a $1,000 fine, anger management courses and regular drug screens. Noel will be placed on the adult maltreatment list and the Medicaid exclusionary list. Read more here.
RUTLEDGE SUPPORTS ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD FOUNDATION WITH $250,000
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced an allocation to the Arkansas National Guard Foundation of $250,000 that will directly support members of the Arkansas National Guard, veterans, survivors and their families. The Foundation provides support to the 8,000 currently serving Guard families and the 250,000 veterans across Arkansas through programs in all 75 counties. For more information, click here.
RUTLEDGE SUES CABOT POOL COMPANY, ULTIMATE POOL CONSTRUCTION
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a lawsuit against Dewayne Boswell, Austin Logan and Ultimate Builders, LLC for violating the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (ADTPA). The complaint alleges Logan, Boswell and companies advertised and accepted money from 17 Arkansans to install in-ground swimming pools, which they failed to complete and provide the promised services and goods, costing homeowners $415,200. The men also did business under the names Ultimate Pool Construction, Logan Pool Construction, UC Lawns and Ultimate Decks. The lawsuit was filed in Lonoke County Circuit Court. Read more here.
RUTLEDGE ANNOUNCES $26 BILLION OPIOID AGREEMENT WITH DRUG DISTRIBUTORS AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced the final approval of the $26 billion opioid agreement with the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen – as well as Johnson & Johnson. Upon finalization of the agreement, the companies will begin releasing funds to a national administrator on April 2, 2022. Those funds will then be allocated to state and local governments during the second quarter of 2022. Read more here.
RUTLEDGE APPLAUDS REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT DISMISSAL
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge issued a statement following the federal district court’s decision to dismiss the Voting Rights Act lawsuit against the Arkansas Board of Apportionment.
“Arkansas voters are victorious after President Biden’s Department of Justice was unwilling to file a complaint against the Arkansas Board of Apportionment and the case was subsequently dismissed,” said Attorney General Rutledge.
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