Joplin men sued for magazine scam

Boone County Circuit Judge Gene Hamilton issued the order following a request by Missouri Attorney Jay Nixon, who also filed a lawsuit against the men, Kameron C. Johnson and Jason E. Cogbill. Both have a Joplin address listed as their current residence.

In the suit, Nixon alleges Johnson and Cogbill, owners of Creek House Subscription, went door-to-door soliciting magazine subscriptions in central and southwest Missouri but failed to deliver the magazines.

Nixon’s office has received more than 60 complaints against the men from consumers in Boone, Callaway, Camden, Christian, Cole and Greene counties. Consumers reportedly paid more than $4,200 for magazines they never received.

The restraining order prohibits Johnson and Cogbill from soliciting and accepting funds for the purchase of magazine subscriptions.

The lawsuit seeks payment of full restitution for all consumers who paid for the subscriptions and payment of civil penalties to the state for violating state consumer protection laws. A hearing on Nixon’s request for an injunction is scheduled for Jan. 6.

Anyone who has been defrauded is asked to contact Nixon’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 392-8222 or file a complaint on the Attorney General’s Office Web site, www.ago.mo.gov.

This story originally appeared in SBJ’s Dec. 19 e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.