MONTGOMERY – Attorney General Luther Strange has announced that Alabama has joined 42 other Attorneys General in submitting a letter to the Secretary of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), voicing strong support for the federal agency’s proposed nationwide investigation of patent trolls.
Patent trolls make baseless claims of patent infringement to extract fees or settlements from consumers. They acquire patents solely for this purpose. Consumers, small businesses and nonprofit agencies are often targeted because they have purchased or used off-the-shelf commercial products that rely on common, everyday technology. These products include printers, scanners or wireless routers.
In early October, the FTC announced its plan to conduct a wide-ranging investigation of known patent trolls, also known as patent assertion entities. The proposed investigation would arm consumer protection authorities with valuable intelligence as they escalate actions against abusers of the patent system.
Recently, a number of states have taken action against patent trolls whose activities run afoul of state consumer protection and unfair trade practice laws. Although much has been discovered through investigation of specific patent troll entities, the business structure and operating methods of other such entities remain unclear.
In addition to Alabama, the states whose Attorneys General signed the December 17 letter to the FTC include Nebraska, Vermont, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and West Virginia.
Attorney General Strange asked Alabama businesses who may have experienced patent trolling to let his office know. “If you believe your business may have been affected by patent trolling, or if someone attempts this with you, please let us know. You may contact my Consumer Protection Division by calling 334-353-1831 or through my webpage, www.ago.alabama.gov.”
AG Announces Arrest of Mobile Police Officer on Charges of Income Tax Evasion, Filing False Returns
MONTGOMERY– Attorney General Luther Strange has announced the arrest of a Mobile police officer on charges of state income tax evasion and filing false tax returns. Donald Pears, 61, surrendered at the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.
Attorney General Strange’s Special Prosecutions Division presented evidence to a Mobile County grand jury on December 9, resulting in Pears’ indictment.
Specifically, the indictment charges Pears with four counts of evading his personal income taxes and four counts of filing false income tax returns under penalty of perjury. The charges involve alleged violations involving the years 2007 through 2010.
No further information about the investigation or about Pears’ alleged crimes other than that stated in the indictment may be released at this time.
If convicted, Pears faces a penalty of five years imprisonment and a $100,000 fine for each of the counts of income tax evasion, and three years imprisonment and a fine of $100,000 for each of the counts of filing false returns.
Attorney General Strange commended Assistant Attorney General Bill Lisenby and thanked Alabama Revenue Commissioner Julie P. Magee, Assistant Attorney General and Assistant Counsel Glen Powers, and agents of the Alabama Department of Revenue.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Ball Cap Bandit Pleads Guilty to Eleven Bank Robberies
HUNTSVILLE — A Huntsville man who was dubbed the Ball Cap Bandit because he often wore a ball cap during his crime spree pleaded guilty today in federal court to 11 counts of bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Schwein Jr.
CEDRICK LAMOND HICKS, 33, entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins to 11 counts of bank robbery. Ten of those were in Alabama and one was in Tennessee. Hicks’ sentencing is scheduled March 25 in Huntsville.
The date, location and amount of money stolen in the robberies Hicks pleaded guilty to are as follows:
• Feb. 22, 2012, Regions Bank, Madison Street, Huntsville, $2,870.
• March 23, 2012, First Jackson Bank, Sutton Road, Huntsville, $1,894.
• April 30, 2012, Renasant Bank, U.S. 72 West, Madison, $3,500.
• Aug. 2, 2012, Peoples Bank, U.S. 431 South, Guntersville, $890.
• Aug. 8, 2012, Traditions Bank, Alabama 67 South, Decatur, $7,243.
• Sept. 19, 2012, First National Bank of Pulaski, South First Street, Pulaski, Tenn., $23,067.
• Nov. 27, 2012, Regions Banks, Lee Street, Rogersville, $8,009.
• Jan. 7, 2013, Peoples Trust Bank, Military Street South, Hamilton, $9,000.
• March 6, 2013, ServisFirst Bank, Meridian Street, Huntsville, $6,575.
• Sept. 18, 2012, Cadence Bank, U.S. 431, Albertville, no money taken.
• Nov. 26, 2012, Traditions Bank, Second Avenue NW, Cullman, no money taken.
Hicks faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each robbery. The government also will seek restitution for the victims of his crimes.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Stuart Burrell is prosecuting the case.
