Two telemarketing companies have been sued in Denver District Court, accused of repeatedly violating the state’s registration laws.
Attorney General John Suthers said Wednesday that the lawsuit was filed against Xentel Inc. and Xentel America.
He claimed the companies violated the state’s registration requirements for charitable campaigns.
Errol Copilevitz, Xentel’s attorney, said Xentel is disappointed the lawsuit was filed because it has been cooperating with the attorney general’s office. He said the lawsuit is about technical issues and not misrepresentations or unaccounted money.
Suthers also said his office filed three lawsuits in Boulder stemming from the case of an elderly woman aggressively targeted by solicitors.
Don Sprague said his now- deceased mother believed she was giving to charities benefitting children and veterans.
But Suthers and Boulder prosecutors alleged Wednesday that Betty Sprague became a “mark” for solicitors and donated $24,000 – money solicitors allegedly used for themselves.
As a result of the Sprague tip, Suthers is suing Veterans for the Homeless Inc. and officers Jay Wyss and Rhett Cline; the Colorado Children’s Assistance Center and David Michael St. John, its founder and director; and Front Range Charitable Services and Colleen Gardenour Holmes, its president.
In addition, Wyss and Cline have been charged criminally with theft, conspiracy and criminal charitable fraud.
David Harrison, who has represented Cline, said Cline wanted to help people and “thought he was doing things to advance that end.” Other defendants declined comment or could not be reached.
