Press Release - Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: FEBRUARY 3, 2014

RE: PRESS RELEASE – CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS REGARDING TAX PREPARERS

Taxpayers who use the services of paid tax preparers are entitled to protection from unfair treatment, according to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs (340-3260).

The Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers describes your rights and contains important information about how to protect yourself from unfair practices. This publication is available from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website at www.tax.ny.gov, or call 518-457-5181.

                                                                

Press Release - Heroin Warning

This is a joint press release from Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright and Ulster County Sheriff Paul VanBlarcum.

 WARNING:
     If you are being offered to purchase or ingest heroin packaged with the logo “Thera Flu”, “Bud Light”, “Bud Ice”,  “Diesel”, “Coors Light”, or “Income Tax”, STOP.  This heroin is tainted.

     We have received reports from neighboring jurisdictions of epic numbers of heroin overdoses.  The City of Poughkeepsie Police Department has reported approximately 68 overdoses connected to tainted heroin between November 1^st and December 23, 2013.  The State of Pennsylvania has reported up to 22 deaths in a four county area since January 19, 2014.

     The culprit is a synthetic opiate called Fentanyl, which is being mixed into the heroin.  Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that is estimated to be 80 times stronger than morphine and 40 times stronger than heroin.  The West Virginia Poison Center reports that a mixture of heroin and Fentanyl produces an extremely potent opiod effect, which may include coma and respiratory depression and can be fatal.  Fentanyl can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, ingestion or absorbed into the skin.

     If you have any information that tainted heroin is being offered for use or sale in Ulster County, please contact the Ulster County Sheriff hotline (845-340-3599 or email to urgenttaskforce@co.ulster.ny.us) and the City of Kingston Police Department tips line (845-331-4499 or go to their tips line http://www.tipsoft.com).

Press Release - People v Audry Shuler

   
  

 

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: JANUARY 30, 2014

RE: PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V AUDRY SHULER

On January 29, 2014 Audry Shuler pled guilty to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.  Shuler had originally pled not guilty and a jury trial had commenced on January 27^th.  The People completed their proof against the defendant and the matter was adjourned for the defense to present their proof.  Following the adjournment the defendant withdrew his not guilty plea and admitted that he sold heroin to a confidential informant.

The case was investigated by Kingston Police Department’s Special Investigative Unit.  On May 6, 2013 the defendant sold heroin to a confidential informant.  Immediately following the sale the defendant was arrested and the $360.00 of buy money was recovered from his person.

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on March 27, 2014 by County Court Judge Donald A. Williams, who presided over the trial.  Shuler, who has a prior criminal history, is expected to be sentenced to six years in state prison.

   
   

Press Release - David Moors

FROM:   HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

        ULSTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DATE:   JANUARY 23, 2014

SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE

David Moors, age 39, of 134 Beachwood Blvd, Beachwood, New Jersey, was indicted by an Ulster County Grand Jury in connection with the killing of a dog on October 27, 2013, at 207 Weed Road in Pine Bush. Moors was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and hunting deer with the aid of bait. At that time, Moors was hunting on his sister’s property when he shot and killed a neighbor’s dog with an arrow.  The dog was a family pet whose owner witnessed the killing.

Press Release - Beware of Infomercials

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: JANUARY 9, 2014

RE: PRESS RELEASE - BEWARE THE PITFALLS OF INFOMERCIALS

The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs advises consumers to use caution when buying products offered for sale via television ads or “infomercials”.

A frequent problem is shipping and handling charges. Consumers claim that these fees are not clearly disclosed and are nonrefundable. These fees are charged “per item” and not based on the total weight of items shipped together. Often these fees exceed the value of the products.

One such company is Wisconsin-based SAS Group, whose products include Ionic Pet Grooming, Lint B Gone, Neckline Slimmer, Samurai Speed Peeler and Turbo Roaster.  Consumers have alleged that orders were placed over an automated phone system, which took credit card information before callers were provided with a total purchase price. After the credit card information was entered, consumers were told that they would have to pay additional shipping and handling fees. Consumers were not able to cancel their order nor were they able to disconnect the call without being charged for the item they inquired about. Consumers who stayed on the line were offered an array of supplemental “free” promotional products. However, SAS charged shipping and handling fees for those free products that far exceeded the actual cost of the item. Additionally, the company shipped items in multiple boxes, when the items would have fit in a single box, thereby increasing shipping fees.

Consumers choosing to conduct business in this manner should not provide credit card information prior to ascertaining the actual charges (and many of these items can be purchased locally).

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.