Attorney General's News Release

August 8, 2007

Nixon obtains default judgment against Texas company that used Pulaski County 911 and DARE program for fraud

Waynesville, Mo. — A Texas company that defrauded local businesses while using the names of two area public service programs is barred from advertising and soliciting funds in the state of Missouri, and must pay $3,860.57 in restitution and costs according to a default judgment obtained by Attorney General Jay Nixon. The judgment, signed today by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tracy Storie, is against WLM Enterprises/Sports Unlimited of Grand Prairie, Texas and defendants David and Wanda Little.

Nixon filed a lawsuit against the defendants in March 2006, alleging that WLM solicited Pulaski County businesses in the summer of 2005 to donate money to purchase tee shirts that were to be distributed to Pulaski County 911 or to students in the local DARE program. Most of the businesses were informed that some or all of the money paid to WLM, which ranged from $99.50 to $249.50, would also go to Pulaski County 911 or to the DARE program at local schools. All told, WLM collected $2,623 from the businesses.

WLM promised Pulaski County 911 up to 300 free tee shirts containing the Pulaski County 911 logo and its non-emergency numbers on the front of the shirts. Instead, Pulaski County 911 received only 74 tee shirts which were of poor quality and did not contain their logo or their non-emergency numbers as promised. No DARE program or school system operating in Pulaski County received any shirts. Neither Pulaski County 911 nor the local DARE program received any money from WLM as represented to the local merchants.

WLM also billed several businesses which had never agreed to purchase advertising or to make a donation, threatening some with employing a collection agency to obtain payment.

“Let this matter be a warning to any citizen or business that is solicited by a third party to buy advertising or to make a donation to a charity, school or government agency,” Nixon said. “Remember that if you are interested in donating to a specific organization such as your local 911 unit, or a school-related program like DARE, it is always best to contact these parties directly.”

For more than a year following Nixon’s lawsuit in March 2006, the defendants failed to produce documents or appear for depositions.

According to the judgment, the defendants are prohibited from selling advertising services or soliciting funds for charitable purposes in the state of Missouri, or from billing, charging and attempting to collect payment from any Pulaski County business owners for advertising services or for charitable donations. The defendants are also ordered to pay $2,015.53 in consumer restitution, $201.55 to Merchandising Practices Revolving Fund and $1,643.49 in court costs.

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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.

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