Announcements, information & updates from
the Attorney General Alliance Members and Associates
December 8, 2023
AGs IN THE NEWS
Hawai’i Attorney General Anne Lopez announced that her office continues
to aggressively push the first phase of the independent investigation into the Maui
wildfires forward. Critical facts are still needed from several key stakeholders for Phase 1 to be completed.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley reminds consumers to watch out not only for the good bargains, but shopping scams as well.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced a lawsuit against a major social media company in federal court alleging that the company’s misrepresentations of content available violate Montana’s consumer protection laws and that its data collection practices violate federal law.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced an investigation into lead-covered cables that may be present throughout Arizona.
Nebraska Attorney General Hilgers announced that consumers who purchased Red Way tickets for flights out of the Lincoln Airport that were later cancelled should be receiving full refunds.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez filed a lawsuit against a major social media company under the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act and public nuisance laws.
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the arrest of a Horseshoe Bend Municipal Recreation Improvement District (MRID) employee on three felony counts resulting from a public integrity investigation conducted by the office’s Special Investigations Division.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced a proposed $110 million settlement with DuPont over chemical contamination spanning seven decades from the company’s Washington Works facility in Parkersburg, W.Va., just across the border from Washington County, Ohio.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he has sued a major pharmaceutical company under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes announced his CASE Strike Force concluded a multi-day retail theft blitz that resulted in 28 arrests and $12,000 recovered stolen property.
 COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CHILD EXPLOITATION 
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the results of Operation Home for the Holidays - an annual, multi-jurisdictional operation to combat human trafficking.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced several actions taken by his office to combat child exploitation.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced that his office obtained a 295-year sentence for an individual in connection with the sexual abuse of his eight-year-old daughter in 2018.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced several actions taken by his office to combat child exploitation.
OPIOIDS AND ILLICIT DRUGS 
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a 94-count indictment charging an individual with the sale of fentanyl, heroin, and firearms.
New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the takedown of a major drug trafficking ring that was distributing heroin and fentanyl, as well as powder and crack cocaine in Rensselaer, Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Dutchess counties. The takedown resulted in the indictment of 25 individuals charged with 164 crimes and recovered more than three kilograms of cocaine, approximately 40 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl — which have a combined potential street value of approximately $350,000 — four handguns, two large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and the seizure of over $50,000 in cash.
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein reached a $1.45 million settlement against South Carolina clinic Med First Immediate Care and Family Practice, P.A. (Med First). The settlement resolves allegations that Med First was operating as a pill mill and filing false claims with Medicare and Medicaid for unnecessary urine drug tests and lengthy complex office visits that never happened.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that a Philadelphia man has pleaded guilty and will serve up to 16 years in state prison for trafficking heroin and fentanyl to Butler County.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced that a Wise County, Virginia man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms.
FIRST AMENDMENT
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson led a multistate coalition of 18 states in filing an amicus brief in Cedar Park Assembly of God of Kirkland v. Kreidler.
CLEAN WATER ACT
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry led a coalition of 11 attorneys general and other parties in a lawsuit against the US Environmental Protection Agency regarding changes to federal regulations governing state-issued water quality certifications.
SECOND AMENDMENT
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell co-led a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in Duncan v. Bonta.
GAMING
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced his office obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO) against White Hall Entertainment in Lowndes County involving more than 600 illegal slot machines and multiple entities associated with the casino location.
HEALTHCARE
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced he led 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in Dekker v. Weida.
MEDIA
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led a coalition of 14 states in a letter to media outlets related to providing material support to terrorists or terrorist organizations.
FOSTER CARE
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti led 16 other states in filing a comment letter regarding the US Department of Health and Human Services’ proposed “Placement Rule.”
IMMIGRATION
California Attorney General Rob Bonta led a multistate coalition letter of 19 attorneys general in response to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule.
CIVIL RIGHTS
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 21 attorneys general to file a brief in Roe v. Critchfield.
PROXY ADVICE
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led a coalition of 23 states in a letter to International Shareholder Services (“ISS”) and Glass Lewis regarding proxy advice practices.
AGO HIGHLIGHTS
The National Association of Attorneys General, the nonpartisan national forum for America’s state and territory attorneys general, has elected three-term Oregon Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum as president of the association.
AGA NEWSLETTERS
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