Tx Attorney General Press Release

AG Paxton: Retail Supply Chains Will Be Held Liable for Price Gouging

March 21, 2020 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today issued a stern warning to retail suppliers, including those who supply grocery stores and pharmacies, that state law strictly prohibits price gouging in the wake of a declared disaster. Price gouging laws apply to any person or entity selling necessities at an exorbitant or excessive price after a disaster has been declared by the Governor or President. This prohibition includes those who supply retailers.

Governor’s Office Clears Path for Governmental Bodies to Meet Telephonically, Videoconference During Coronavirus Disaster

March 16, 2020 - Governor Abbott’s office today approved a request by the Office of the Attorney General to temporarily suspend a limited number of open meeting laws in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disaster. This action will allow governmental bodies to conduct meetings by telephone or video conference to advance the public health goal of limiting face-to-face meetings (also called “social distancing”) to slow the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

AG Paxton Warns of Price Gouging as Texans Prepare to Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus

March 13, 2020 Austin - As Texans take precautions against exposure to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and prepare for the possibility of self-quarantine if affected, Attorney General Ken Paxton warned that state law prohibits price gouging in the wake of a declared disaster. Governor Greg Abbott today issued a statewide disaster declaration.

Shelby County Man Guilty of Child Exploitation Violations

December 20, 2019 – A 23-year-old Joaquin, Texas man has pleaded guilty to child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.

Alexander Nathan Barter pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and distribution of child pornography before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Giblin on December 20, 2019.

AG Paxton Announces Settlement Agreement with T-Mobile on Sprint Merger

November 25, 2019 – Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced that his office reached a settlement with T-Mobile resolving the state’s antitrust claims against the proposed merger of mobile wireless telecommunications service providers Sprint and T-Mobile. The agreement is designed to prevent the New T-Mobile from increasing prices for wireless services on Texans for five years after the merger is complete. The agreement also commits the New T-Mobile to build out a 5G network throughout Texas, including rural areas of our state, during the next six years.

AG Paxton’s Child Exploitation Unit Arrests Sabine County Man

June 20, 2019 Austin – Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced that the Child Exploitation Unit of his office arrested 66-year-old Walter James Sanders Jr., of Hemphill, Texas, on five counts of possession of child pornography, a third-degree felony.

AG Paxton Testifies in Support of Anti-Human Trafficking Bill

April 4, 2019 Austin – Appearing today before the Senate State Affairs Committee, Attorney General Ken Paxton testified in support of Senate Bill 1257, which would give the attorney general’s office concurrent jurisdiction on human trafficking cases to further the state’s effort to combat modern-day slavery.

Below is an excerpt from Attorney General Paxton’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Consumer Alert: Scammers Impersonating Pastors to Solicit Gift Cards

March 1, 2019 Austin – Attorney General Ken Paxton today issued a consumer alert regarding persons alleging to be priests or pastors texting members of the church and asking them to buy gift cards for a false charitable cause.

Texans have received deceptive texts from people pretending to be pastors, then requesting that they purchase a gift card and send them the information to access that card. The scammers claim these gift cards are needed for some charitable reason, but insist they cannot pick up a gift card themselves and the purchaser will be reimbursed.

AG Paxton Issues Consumer Alert on Social Security Scam

January 4, 2019 Austin – Attorney General Ken Paxton today warned Texans to beware of calls from scam artists pretending to be with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and attempting to fool unsuspecting people into giving them their Social Security number and money.

AG Paxton Announces $575 Million Settlement with Wells Fargo for Violating Consumer Protection Laws

December 31, 2018 Austin – Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced that Wells Fargo Bank N.A. will pay $575 million to resolve claims that the bank violated consumer protection laws in Texas, 49 other states and the District of Columbia through alleged unfair and deceptive trade practices. Texas’ share of the settlement is approximately $47 million. The agreement represents the most significant engagement involving a national bank by state attorneys general acting without a federal law enforcement partner.

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