Attorney General's News Release

October 18, 2006

Man who placed fake collection boxes with retailers to pay $1,000 to state, make $500 donation to Special Olympics

Joplin, Mo. — A Joplin man who placed collection boxes with area retailers after falsely telling the merchants that money collected would be given to Special Olympics will make a $500 contribution to that charity and pay $1,000 to the Attorney General's Office to cover its costs of bringing legal action in the case.

Attorney General Jay Nixon said that under the order from the Jasper County Circuit Court, William Bowman also is permanently prohibited from engaging in charitable solicitations or acting as a professional fundraiser in Missouri without properly registering with the Attorney General's Office.

Nixon filed a lawsuit in January against Bowman and Darrell Winters of Royse City, Texas. Last December, Nixon and Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney Dean Dankelson jointly filed criminal charges against Winters' brother, Robert L. Winters, charging him with unlawful merchandising practices for allegedly placing fake collection boxes with area retailers. The criminal charges against Robert Winters and the civil lawsuit against Darrell Winters are still pending.

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 the Press Secretary.

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