Attorney General's News Release

Augist 18, 2000

Las Vegas man pleads guilty to 10 criminal counts in connection with telemarketing scam; to repay victims

Clayton, Mo. — A Las Vegas man today pleaded guilty in St. Louis County Circuit Court to 10 criminal counts brought by Attorney General Jay Nixon in connection with the man's involvement in a telemarketing scam.

Phillip E. Little was sentenced to 10 concurrent five-year prison sentences on the charges of unlawful merchandising practices and was ordered to pay $7,188 restitution in varying amounts to a total of seven senior citizen victims. The prison terms were suspended; however, Little must pay the restitution, testify truthfully and completely for the state in any prosecutions against other people who also may have been involved in the scam, and not engage in any telemarketing into or from Missouri.

A joint investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Attorney General's Office revealed that, beginning in 1996, Little and several other people used cell phones to contact their out-of-state victims. They would tell victims they had won a prize and needed to send hundreds or thousands of dollars to claim their prize.

Another defendant, Eddie Littleton, was sentenced in May to two four-year consecutive prison sentences for his part in the scam. Two women and a man involved in the scam earlier pleaded guilty to unlawful merchandising practices; Sandra Tyse was placed on probation for five years after paying $1,500 in restitution, Joy Cole was sentenced to five years in prison, and James Little was ordered to pay restitution.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818