Attorney General's News Release

November 13, 2006

Nixon files felony charges against Springfield man for allegedly misrepresenting that he could practice law

Springfield, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon has filed criminal charges against a Springfield man who Nixon says knowingly defrauded at least four individuals into paying him over $38,000 for legal services even though the defendant was not licensed to practice law.

Nixon charged Alton Louis Vaughn Sr. (DOB- 8/17/56) with four counts of unlawful merchandising practices fraud in connection with his providing legal services between March 2003 and May 2006. Vaughn, who often referred to himself with the title “Bishop” Vaughn, turned himself in to local law enforcement authorities this morning.

The probable cause statement filed with the charges alleges that the defendant misrepresented that he was able to practice law and provide legal services to residents of southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas through Pro Se Help International, an organization he founded. Vaughn would repeatedly demand additional payments from his clients while claiming to represent them, fail to complete work on the cases and then neglect to refund payments made to him by those clients, the statement alleges.

Nixon says Vaughn's alleged victims included:

• A Taney County woman who paid the defendant $9,000 to represent her in a child custody case and whose children were adopted by another family while Vaughn claimed he was working on the case;
• An Arkansas man who paid the defendant $18,000 for legal representation in a divorce, wrongful termination dispute and criminal case before Vaughn missed numerous court appearances and failed to file the proper paperwork while neglecting to refund any of the funds paid to him;
• An Arkansas man who paid Vaughn $5,000 to help secure his son's early release from prison but did not receive any of the money back from the defendant when his son was not granted the early release.

A preliminary hearing in the Vaughn case is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2007. Unlawful merchandising practices is a Class D felony under Missouri law, punishable upon conviction by up to four years in prison and a fine of $5,000 per count. The pending charges against the defendant are merely accusations. As in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.

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