Door To Door Sales 2007

Traveling Sales Crews
Information Website

Door To Door Sales 2007

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September 22, 2007
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Breaking News 2007

We usher in the new year of 2007 with a murdered magazine sales agent, 3 rape cases, and a van rollover.

All of these horrible things have happened within the last 5 weeks.

It is time for the United States Government, the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, the US Attorney General, and the Federal Labor Department to take a very close look at the "traveling door-to-door sales" industry.

It is time to prosecute those people who are in control of this corrupt and immoral industry to the full extent of the law.

It is time to expose them for what they really are and put an end to this fowl industry before more innocent kids and homeowners are raped, murdered, or killed in van accidents.

To research the traveling door to door sales industry crime wave
click on the links below:

Door To Door Sales Crimes - Criminal Profiler

DMPG Compiled Article Criminal Chronology
July 2005 - December 2006
Chronology 2005 - 2006

DMPG Compiled Article Criminal Chronology
1982 - 2005
Chronology 1982 - 2005

Letters To The MPA and Publishers
Letters To The MPA and Publishers

Slaves to the sale - By Nancy Stancill
Read these 'award winning' articles by Nancy Stancill.
The 'Slaves to the sales series' reveals a shocking glimpse into the dark and murky past of the ‘traveling door to door sales’ industry and provides an excellent history of an unregulated and immoral enterprise that continues to exploit young adults for profit.
Slaves to the sale

Dedicated Memorial Parents Group
January 5, 2007

DMPG Featured Article

New York NY
For Youths, A Grim Tour on Magazine Crews
Febuary 21, 2007
By IAN URBINA
New York Times
Read This Story

New York Times:
Life on a Magazine Crew
View This Video

Letters To The MPA and Publishers
Letters To The MPA and Publishers

Posted: 02/21/07

May 14, 2007

PROTECT THE ONES YOU LOVE
WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW

The Truth About
The Southwestern Company
www.southwesterncompanytruth.com

North Carolina
Magazine Sales Company
Banned From State
May 9, 2007
Trinity Public Relations
Door-To-Door Traveling Magazine Company
Based in Charlotte, North Carolina

Magazine Sales Company Owners
James A. Davis and Lourdes J. Davis
Permanently Barred From Owning Or Operating
Any Business In North Carolina That Sells Magazines.

North Carolina
Attorney General Roy Cooper
Press Releases:
Read NC AG Press Release 05/03/07 - PDF
Read NC AG Press Release 09/27/06 - PDF

April 24, 2007

Magazine Sales Company/Collection Agency Banned In West Virginia
By Attorney General Darrell McGraw
The following companies and their owner (CATHERINE M KEY)
have been banned in West Virginia

United Subscription Agency
(a magazine sales company owned by Catherine M. Key)
(Website: mytraveljob.com)

Check Game Solutions
(a collection agency owned by Catherine M. Key)
and
CATHERINE M KEY
Banned from doing business in West Virginia

CATHERINE M KEY and Check Game Solutions
are listed as Supporting Members of the National Field Selling Association
NFSA - Website: (www.nfsa.com) - NFSA
NFSA Supporting Member Page: NFSA Supporting Member Page

Catherine M. Key
Check Game Solutions, Inc.
1850 43rd Avenue
Suite C-10
Vero Beach FL, 32960
(800) 886-9798

Read The West Virginia AG Lawsuit

For additional information
Click Here

New York
Attorney General
Andrew M. Cuomo
Lawsuit Filed Against: JAGUAR SALES, LLC d/b/a/ JAGUAR SALES
Labor Violations
August 8, 2007
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, by
ANDREW M. CUOMO,
Attorney General of the State of New York,
Petitioners,
-against-
JAGUAR SALES, LLC d/b/a/ JAGUAR SALES,
ANN SIBISKI, DAVID SIBISKI, TOM SIBISKI,
ADAM CARLISLE, STEPHEN BARCEL, TIM BROWN,
D.J. WARREN, KELLY “DOE”and PREMIER SALES,
Respondents.

Read Lawsuit Against Jaguar Sales

Office of the New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo
Department of Law
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271
212-416-8060
oag.state.ny.us
Read This Press Release

Additional Info On Jaguar Sales And Lawsuit Click Here

AARP
SCAM ALERT !!!
Unwitting magazine subscriptions may be buying trouble
October 2007
Danger on Your Doorstep
Door-to-Door Deception
By Sid Kirchheimer
AARP Bulletin; Vol. 48; No. 9
October 2007 Read PDF Danger on Your Doorstep

D.M.P.G. Info Clip
November 17, 2007

Wisconsin
On July 1, 2005 Brandon Green (a traveling magazine salesman employed by Gemini Subscriptions and Palmetto Marketing) brutally beat and raped a Menomonie, Wisconsin woman.

Dunn County District Attorney Criminal Complaint:
Read PDF Criminal Complaint

Lawsuit Filed Against Vincent Pitts and Palmetto Marketing
by Wisconsin Lawfirm Lawton and Cates:
Read The Civil Lawsuit Against Vincent Pitts

Dunn County Court Judge Stewart's Decision:
Read Court Decision

Wisconsin Court Of Appeals Denies Vincent Pitts Appeal:
October 30, 2007
Read PDF Wisconsin Court of Appeals Decision

Vincent Pitts is currently president of the
National Field Selling Association.
The NFSA (NFSA) is a trade group that represents many of the traveling magazine sales companies and magazine clearinghouses across the country.

The Magazine clearinghouses clear magazine subscriptions from the magazine sales crews and magazine sales companies up to the magazine publishers (Magazine Publishers of America: MPA).

Read Letters To The Publishers

Claremont, California
Door-to-Door Magazine Salesman Rapes
22-year-old Claremont Woman
December 29, 2007
Claremont Police Department News Release
Public Safety News
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2007
Rape Suspect Arrested
A door-to-door salesman was arrested for rape on Wednesday, December 19. The victim, a female who was home alone in the area of Towne Ave. and Scripps Dr., allowed the suspect to enter her home at about 4:20 pm. The suspect raped the victim and then fled on foot when a relative arrived home. The suspect was thought to be a door-to-door salesman and a check of the area by police located several persons in the area soliciting sales of magazines and other items for an out of state company. Prompted by contact with investigators, an employee of the solicitation company called Claremont Police at about 8:30 pm to report that a possible suspect, a fellow employee, was at a specific location in the area. Police contacted the suspect and he was positively identified by the relative. The suspect, identified as Corey Finley, a 21 year old male residing in Missouri, was arrested and booked for rape, sodomy and false imprisonment. He is being held at the Claremont Police Department jail in lieu of $2 million bail. Finley is due for arraignment in Pomona Court on Friday, December 21. The victim was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and released. This incident serves as an important reminder that strangers should not be allowed into your home. This crime occurred almost exactly one year after a very similar incident in the same area of Claremont. In that case a 22 year old door-to-door salesman, Rondie Walz , was allowed into a home and raped a female who was also home alone. Walz was later apprehended and convicted of rape.
Press Release - Rape Suspect Arrested (Adobe Acrobat, 30KB)
Read PDF Claremont Police News Release
Claremont Police Department
Claremont Police Department
www.ci.claremont.ca.us
Claremont, California
Read This Story

D.M.P.G. Info Clip
December 29, 2007

Claremont Police Department News Release
December 19, 2007:
Read PDF Claremont Police News Release

Claremont, California
Door-to-Door Salesman Rapes
22-year-old Claremont Woman
December 27, 2007
Change urged after rapes
Business fee hike could be option
By Will Bigham, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Article Created: 12/27/2007 09:50:21 PM PST
CLAREMONT - Following last week's rape in the city by a door-to-door salesman - the second such incident in as many years - Police Chief Paul Cooper wants to strengthen the laws regulating door-to-door solicitors. A city ordinance prohibits soliciting, but the law is unenforceable because of a Supreme Court ruling that established the practice as a constitutional right, Cooper said. City officials might consider higher fees for business licenses to discourage door-to-door salesmen from visiting the city, Mayor Peter Yao said. Cooper said he would like the ordinance to prohibit solicitors from knocking on doors marked with "no soliciting" signs. He has scheduled a meeting for Jan. 8 with City Attorney Sonia Carvalho to discuss the city's options. "Clearly, we've had two instances now, two significant crimes that have occurred. In addition to those, we continue to receive calls for service each month on solicitors going door to door," Cooper said. " ... We need to look at the law to see if we can be more restrictive." Door-to-door salesman Corey Finley, 21, was arrested Dec. 19 after allegedly raping a woman who let him into her home. Finley was arraigned Dec. 21 on felony rape charges, and remains in custody in lieu of $2 million bail, Cooper said. The incident was similar to a rape that occurred in the city about one year prior, when door-to-door magazine salesman Rondie Lamont Walz, 22, raped a woman who allowed him into her home during a sale on Dec 2, 2006. Walz was found guilty of rape and sentenced to 18 years in prison. City Council members reached by phone Thursday said they supported tighter restrictions on solicitors. Yao said the issue was urgent, and would likely appear on a City Council agenda in February or March. "No city can impose a no-solicitation ordinance," Yao said. "However, things that we can do are impose a higher than normal fee. ... Perhaps if the fee is high, (solicitors) will bypass Claremont." Councilman Sam Pedroza said he would consider new restrictions on solicitors, adding that educating the public on the practice is arguably more important. "I don't know how many times we have to hear this same story about not opening doors to strangers," Pedroza said. "We need to do more to educate people about their safety."
will.bigham@dailybulletin.com
(909) 483-8553

Related
Mar 23:
Peddler gets 18 years for rape
Mar 21:
Salesman found guilty of rape
Jan 25:
Traveling salesman to be tried on sex charges
Jan 12:
Door to door magazine salesman pleads not guilty to rape
Dec 5:
Claremont rape suspect arrested
Magazine salesman suspected in Claremont rape
Dec 4:
Woman raped by man posing as door-to-door salesman

By Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
dailybulletin.com
Claremont, California
Read This Story

Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 21, 2007
Albuquerque police investigate rape accusations
in deaths of couple
By Maggie Shepard (Contact)
Call Maggie at 505-823-3679.
Albuquerque Journal
Friday, December 21, 2007
Albuquerque police are trying to find out if one of the men accused of killing a couple in their home is telling the truth when he says his alleged accomplice sexually assaulted the female victim. Police say Travis Rowley, 23, is accusing fellow traveling magazine salesman Mike Lee, 21, of raping 69-year-old Pung Yi and strangling her, then killing her husband Tak Yi, 79, in their Northeast Heights home Dec. 4. Both Rowley and Lee were indicted Wednesday in state District Court on charges of rape in a case previously described by police as a robbery gone bad. The two will also face trial on charges of murder, robbery, burglary, larceny, kidnapping and several other charges. But police said Thursday that they are still looking for evidence to substantiate Rowley's accusation. They said evidence has corroborated many other details in Rowley's statement to detectives following his Dec. 7 arrest. With rape included in their charges, the two are eligible for the death penalty. District Attorney Kari Brandenburg said her office has 90 days to decide whether to pursue it. The Yis were found Dec. 4 in their home in the 6900 block of Avenida la Costa Northeast by their son, who was checking in on them after they failed to call him. Family members told investigators that jewelry, several cameras and credit cards were missing from the home, according to Metro Court criminal complaints. According to the criminal complaints, Rowley and Lee had been dropped off in the Yis' neighborhood to sell magazine subscriptions when they saw Tak Yi working in his backyard. Rowley told police that Lee said he was going to "steal an item from the home." Lee allegedly punched Pung Yi, who fell to the floor, and Rowley reportedly dragged her into the home. Then Tak Yi entered the home and tried to call police, Rowley told police. After punching Tak Yi twice, Rowley said, Lee suffocated Pung Yi and then walked over to Tak Yi and stomped his foot on his head, the complaint said. Rowley said he believed the "blow was fatal." Lee and Rowley were picked up Dec. 7 after the public called in tips. The two were selling their magazines door-to-door when officers arrested Rowley in Rio Rancho and Lee on the city's West Side. Lee, from the Boston area, is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in lieu of $2 million cash-only bond; Rowley, from outside of Los Angeles, is being held in lieu of $2 million cash or surety bond.

RELATED STORIES
Men accused of killing Albuquerque couple face charges, including rape and murder
Robbery was motive in slaying of older Albuquerque couple
Albuquerque police seek man in connection with couple's death
By Maggie Shepard (Contact)
Call Maggie at 505-823-3679.
Albuquerque Journal
abqjournal.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Read This Story

Claremont, California
Door-to-Door Salesman Rapes
22-year-old Claremont Woman
December 20, 2007
Salesman suspected of rape nabbed
By Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Article Created: 12/20/2007 08:41:46 PM PST
CLAREMONT - A door-to-door salesman was arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of raping a woman who had let him into the house. The incident was eerily similar to one that occurred just a street away last December. "It just goes to show you don't let people in your house," said Claremont police Lt. Jon Traber. "Especially if you're female, but anyone. There are so many strange people out there." Corey Finley, 21, of Missouri was arrested on suspicion of rape, sodomy and false imprisonment of the 22-year-old woman, who was home alone in the area of Towne Avenue and Scripps Drive, according to a Claremont Police Department news release. She was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and released, according to police officials. The woman let the salesman into her home about 4:20 p.m. Wednesday and was raped a short time later. A relative of the woman arrived home and the man fled from the house. Police officials searched the area for a door-to-door salesman and found several people who were soliciting donations for an out-of-state company. An employee of the company eventually called Claremont police about 8:30 p.m. to report the location of a possible suspect, who turned out to be Finley. Finley was picked up by police and the woman's relative positively identified him as the salesman, police officials said. Finley is being held at Claremont Police Department jail and his arraignment is set for today in Pomona Superior Court. Traber said the original $100,000 bail was raised to $2 million because Finley was deemed a flight risk. This past year on Wheaton Avenue, a traveling magazine-subscription salesman raped a woman. Rondie Lamont Walz, 22, of Gig Harbor, Wash., was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the Dec. 2, 2006, rape of the 20-year-old woman.
By Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
dailybulletin.com
Claremont, California
Read This Story

Claremont, California
Door-to-Door Salesman Rapes
22-year-old Claremont Woman
December 20, 2007
8:16 a.m.: Missouri man arrested in rape of Claremont woman
San Bernardino Sun
Article Launched: 12/20/2007 08:16:07 AM PST
CLAREMONT - Police arrested a door-to-door magazine salesman Wednesday on suspicion of raping a 22-year-old woman in her home, a crime strangely similar to one that occurred in the city a year ago. Corey Finley, 21, of Missouri was booked into jail at the Claremont Police Department in lieu of $100,000 bail. His bail has since been increased to $2 million due to the severity of the crime and because Finley is a flight risk, said Claremont police Lt. Dennis Smith. Claremont police said the victim was home alone near the intersection of Towne Avenue and Scripps Drive at 4:20 p.m. when the salesman came to her residence. She let Finley inside her home. Finley then raped her. "A relative of the victim arrived home during the assault and the suspect fled from the house," Smith said. Police searched the area and found several people soliciting for donations for an out-of-state company. An employee of the company called the police at 8:30 p.m. - several hours after police contacted the company - and told investigators where to find a possible suspect, police said in a release. Officers tracked down the man, who was positively identified as the suspect by the victim's relative, police said. Police arrested Finley on suspicion of rape, sodomy and false imprisonment. The incident served as a tragic reminder of another rape that occurred in the same area almost exactly a year ago. In that incident, a woman home alone Dec. 2 let another door-to-door magazine salesman in her residence after the man convinced her to fill out some paperwork. Rondie Lamont Leland Walz, 22, of Gig Harbor, Wash. was arrested several days later in Norwalk. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison in March.
San Bernardino Sun
sbsun.com
California
Read This Story

Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 20, 2007
Men accused of killing Albuquerque couple face charges,
including rape and murder
By Maggie Shepard (Contact)
Albuquerque Journal
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The two men charged in connection with the slaying of a Korean couple in their Northeast Heights home also raped the woman, according to charges included in the indictment filed today. Previously described by police as a robbery gone bad, the deaths of Tak Yi, 79, and his wife Pung Yi, 69, are now cast in a more brutal light as both suspects, Travis Rowley, 23, and Mike Lee, 21, face rape charges. Rowley and Lee were indicted by a state District Court grand jury Wednesday on charges that also include murder, aggravated battery, robbery, burglary, larceny, kidnapping and conspiracy. Under the circumstances, the two, both traveling magazine salesmen, are eligible for the death penalty, said District Attorney Kari Brandenburg. Her office has 90 days to decide whether to pursue it. The Yis were found Dec. 4 in their home in the 6900 block of Avenida la Costa Northeast by their son, who was checking in on them after they failed to call him. Family members told investigators that jewelry, several cameras and credit cards were missing from the home, according to Metro Court criminal complaints. But the complaints and search warrants left out details of the alleged rape. Detectives in the case have said this detail was withheld from the family to protect them from the brutality of the couple's death. Brandenburg said the family was informed last week of the charges her office planned to seek. Prosecutors were waiting for more evidence to determine whether to charge both Rowley and Lee or one of them with the rape of Pung Yi. According to the criminal complaints, Rowley and Lee were dropped off in the Yis' neighborhood to sell magazine subscriptions when they saw Tak Yi working in his backyard. Rowley told police that Lee said he was going to "steal an item from the home." Lee allegedly punched Pung Yi, who fell to the floor, and Rowley reportedly dragged her into the home. Then Tak Yi entered the home and tried to call police, Rowley told police. After punching Tak Yi twice, Rowley said, Lee suffocated Pung Yi and then walked over to Tak Yi and stomped his foot on his head, the complaint said. Rowley said he believed the "blow was fatal." Lee and Rowley were picked up Dec. 7 after the public called in tips. The two were selling their magazines door-to-door when officers arrested Rowley in Rio Rancho and Lee on the city's West Side. Lee, from the Boston area, is held in lieu of $2 million cash-only bond; Rowley, from outside Los Angeles, is held in lieu of $2 million cash or surety bond. Both are held in the Metropolitan Detention Center.

RELATED STORIES
Robbery was motive in slaying of older Albuquerque couple
Albuquerque police seek man in connection with couple's death
By Maggie Shepard (Contact)
Call Maggie at 505-823-3679.
Albuquerque Journal
abqjournal.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Read This Story

Albuquerque, New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 20, 2007
Rape Added To List Of Charges Against Traveling Salesmen
POSTED: 5:36 pm MST December 20, 2007
UPDATED: 7:20 pm MST December 21, 2007
Associated Press
KOAT-TV
KOAT 7
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Rape has been added to the list of charges two men are facing in the slaying of an elderly couple in a northeast Albuquerque home. Police have described the deaths of 79-year-old Tak Yi and his 69-year-old wife Pung Yi as a robbery gone bad. The case now is cast in a more brutal light as both suspects --23-year-old Travis Rowley and 21-year-old Mike Lee -- face rape charges. The men were indicted this week on charges that also include murder, aggravated battery, robbery, burglary, larceny, kidnapping and conspiracy. Police say DNA from the crime scene still is being processed, and based on those results, the rape charges might be reduced or dropped against one of the two suspects. Rowley and Lee are being held on a $2 million bond. Associated Press
KOAT-TV
KOAT 7
koat.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Read This Story

Albuquerque, New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 20, 2007
New details emerge in double murder case
By: Shelton Dodson KOB-TV, and Joshua Panas KOB.com
Posted at: 12/20/2007 04:13:07 PM
Updated at: 12/20/2007 07:32:32 PM
Shocking details have emerged in the case of a Korean couple murdered in their northeast Albuquerque home earlier this month. Detectives now believe the suspects sexually assaulted the female victim before they beat the couple to death. The suspects are now facing 27-counts for the double murder of Tak Yi and his wife Pung Yi. Included in the indictment are charges that Pung Yi was raped by her attackers. Travis Rowley, 23, and Michael Lee, 21, are each being held on a $2 million bond. The door-to-door magazine salesmen were arrested three days after the Yi's were found murdered in their home. Investigators said that they initially withheld the rape evidence to protect the grieving Yi family from the horrific details. The family was aware of the sexual assault details before they were made public. DNA from the crime scene is still being processed, and based on those results, the rape charges may be reduced or dropped against one of the two suspects. Both Rowley and Lee are eligible for the death penalty in this case; the district attorney has 90 days from the January 4 arraignment date to decide if she wants to go forward with a death penalty case. By: Shelton Dodson KOB-TV, and Joshua Panas KOB.com
Eyewitness News 4
kob.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Read This Story

Denton, Texas
Traveling Door-To-Door Magazine Sales Warning !!!
December 19, 2007
Local News
By Donna Fielder / Staff Writer
Denton Record-Chronicle
11:58 PM CST on Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Denton, Texas
800 block of Circle View Lane — A woman believes a magazine salesman stole her $3,000 ring, according to a police report. The woman said she came home about 2 p.m. and laid the ring on a table in the entranceway to her home. A magazine salesman rang her doorbell and she allowed him inside for a few moments until she found out what he wanted. She sent him on his way without buying any magazines; however she then noticed that her ring was missing. By Donna Fielder / Staff Writer
Denton Record-Chronicle
dentonrc.com
Denton, Texas
Read This Story

Madison, Wisconsin
Traveling Door-To-Door Sales
Legislation - SB-80
December 19, 2007
Traveling sales crew bill needs more narrow focus
Dave Cappozzo, guest columnist — 12/19/2007 11:38 am
Opinion - Letters to the editor
Capital Times
Madison, Wisconsin
In response to a recent column by Sen. Jon Erpenbach, I would like to reiterate several points I made in a letter to the Senate committee considering Senate Bill 80, the traveling sales crew bill. I am a homeowner, taxpayer and UW-Madison alumnus. As such, I commend Sen. Erpenbach for taking the lead in regulating rogue magazine van crews that participate in unethical practices and should not be allowed to exploit Wisconsin residents. No one wants to see another tragic accident such as the one in Janesville in 1999 or the safety of our residents and youths compromised in any way. Since the bill's conception, opposition to the bill has not been from any of the so-called traveling sales crews. It has been from legitimate businesses, Wisconsin residents and college students across the state who have a vested interest in this bill since it would affect them directly. The traveling sales crews do need regulation. While I wholeheartedly agree with the intent of the bill, I couldn't disagree more with the ultimate consequence the current version would have on the ability of hundreds of college students and potentially other entrepreneurs who choose direct sales as a method to build a customer base. The bill in question does not simply require registration with the Department of Workforce Development. It eliminates the choice and the opportunity for young people to run their own business by defining them as employees of their supplier(s). This is an opportunity I cherish since I, like hundreds and hundreds of other Wisconsin college students through the years, have benefited from it. There are successful contributors to Wisconsin communities all over the state, including police officers, doctors, lawyers, educators and, yes, sales people because they were afforded an opportunity to pay for their education through small independent sales businesses. I was very fortunate and blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in a summer internship program with the Southwestern Co. As a wholesale customer of Southwestern Co., I bought and then sold children's books and family reference books. I learned at a young age that I can accomplish anything through hard work, discipline and self-confidence. I learned how to set goals, how to establish a good schedule, and how to develop a positive mental attitude ... all on my own. I chose to spend my summers gaining invaluable experience -- things not always taught in a classroom. This allowed me not only to stand out among my peers upon graduation, but also to graduate debt-free. Some of my classmates even earned college credit because their professors viewed their experience as excellent business exposure. Just as I would never give away my college experience at UW-Madison, I would also never give away my summers spent learning life skills and gaining personal growth. This type of program is nowhere near a traveling sales crew, therefore it should not be broadly defined as one. I applaud the Small Business Committee and Rep. Terry Moulton's efforts to understand the bigger picture. I appreciate our lawmakers looking out for hard-working, ambitious college students so they may continue to learn and grow from their summer experiences. A problem often has more than one right way to get to a solution. The bill is not simply a matter of "simple regulation." Senate Bill 80 should be altered to a narrower, targeted focus, so that all legitimate interests are protected. Hopefully, there can be cooperation to get that done.
Dave Cappozzo is a McFarland resident.
Dave Cappozzo, guest columnist — 12/19/2007 11:38 am
Dave Cappozzo, guest columnist — 12/19/2007 11:38 am
Opinion - Letters to the editor
Capital Times
madison.com
Madison, Wisconsin
Read This Story

Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 18, 2007
Albuquerque sues employer of traveling salesmen
accused in killings of couple
By Caleb Fort
Albuquerque Journal
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The city is suing the employer of two traveling magazine salesmen accused in the killings of a Northeast Heights couple. Mayor Martin Chavez also said he will propose amendments to the city's solicitor ordinance that would make it more difficult for out-of-state businesses to fly under the radar. The lawsuit accuses Integrity Program of Las Vegas, Nev., of not conducting background checks on the two men or otherwise doing an adequate job of ensuring they would not be a danger to the city. The lawsuit seeks punitive damages against the company and a restraining order that would prevent the company from doing business in Albuquerque. Tak Yi, 79, and his wife, Pung Yi, 69, were slain in their home Dec. 4. Travis Rowley, 23, and Michael Lee, 21, traveling salesmen for the company, were arrested Dec. 11 in the deaths, and each is charged with two counts of murder. The company has not returned phone calls or e-mails from The Tribune. The mayor's changes to the ordinance would establish a "no-knock list," similar to the national do-not-call list that limits which phone numbers telemarketers may call. Albuquerque residents could call 311, the city's information hot line, to place themselves on the list. Solicitors who went to houses on the list, or houses with no-solicitation signs, would face a petty misdemeanor charge. The ordinance would also requires stricter permits for solicitors. The sales teams' coordinators would have to apply for a permit at least 30 days before beginning work in the city. The application would include the solicitors' coordinator's name, phone number and address — or, if the sales team is part of a corporation, the names of all officers and directors. The current ordinance requires door-to-door solicitors to obtain a permit from the city before going knocking. Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said the proposed amendments would be coupled with better enforcement. If a solicitor went to a house on the no-knock list, the resident would be responsible for calling police. The police would respond to the neighborhood to try to round up any solicitors operating illegally, Schultz said. The quickness of the response would depend on how aggressive the solicitors were, he said. "If they're physically trying to get into the home, if they're sticking their foot in the door, that would be a bigger response," Schultz said. The coordinator would also have to provide, written, sworn statements that all the sales team members had undergone background checks and would conduct business "lawfully, honestly and fairly without resort to duress, coercion or harassment." Quick enforcement is critical, because traveling solicitors are often in town for only a few days. "They come into town; they're knocking on doors; and they're usually gone before authorities have a chance to take action," Schultz said. Because of sales teams' nomadic nature, it is difficult to tell how many come through Albuquerque, he said. Charitable organizations such as church groups, political fund-raisers and Girl Scouts, as well as anyone under 17, would be exempt from the ordinance, city attorney Robert White said.
By Caleb Fort
Albuquerque Journal
abqjournal.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Read This Story

Albuquerque, New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 17, 2007
ABQ mayor proposes 'No-Knock' list
Posted at: 12/17/2007 07:04:39 PM
Updated at: 12/17/2007 07:24:12 PM
By: Stuart Dyson KOB-TV, and Joshua Panas KOB.com
A crackdown on door-to-door salespeople could be in the works for Albuquerque in the wake of the double murder involving two magazine salesmen. The two men are accused of killing an elderly Korean couple, after getting in their house with a sales pitch. Now the mayor wants the city council to set up a “No-Knock” list for people who don’t want to be bothered by salespeople. "Similar to what's done with telephone solicitors, you can put yourself on a list and no one can solicit you formally on that line," said Mayor Chavez. Salespeople who ignore the list, or “No Solicitors” sign, would face fines and even jail time. The law would not apply to charitable, religious, or political groups.
By: Stuart Dyson KOB-TV, and Joshua Panas KOB.com
Eyewitness News 4
kob.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 14, 2007
Autopsies Show Couple Beaten
By T.J. Wilham
Journal Staff Writer
Albuquerque Journal
Friday, December 14, 2007
The prominent Korean woman who was killed in her Northeast Heights home earlier this month was beaten, strangled and suffocated, according to preliminary autopsy reports released Thursday. The reports also show that Pung Yi, 69, and her husband Tak Yi, 79, had been dead in their home in the 6900 block of Avenida la Costa NE for a day before they were discovered by their son on Dec. 4. Tak Yi was beaten to death, according to the reports. Police Chief Ray Schultz said Thursday the killings were some of the most brutal he has seen since the March 1996 Hollywood Video murders in Albuquerque that left five people dead. "This was an unusually violent crime scene," Schultz said. "It's a brutal case, and what compounds it is the age of our victims. These were two senior members of our community that were beaten for no reason." Three days after the Yis were discovered, police arrested Travis Rowley, 23, and Michael Lee, 21, in connection with their deaths. Rowley and Lee were traveling salesmen for Integrity Program LLC, a company that hires independent contractors to tour the country selling books and magazine subscriptions. The two were arrested after a sketch was released of Rowley. Rowley had been spotted the same day the Yis were killed trying to sell magazines. One homeowner reported to police that Rowley tried to talk his way into his home. Rowley was spotted by Rio Rancho police after they received complaints from Northern Meadows residents about a magazine salesman in the area. When questioned, Rowley told investigators that Lee went into the home with the intention to steal something when the two beat the couple. He also said Lee had suffocated Tak Yi. Police declined to say exactly how Pung Yi was strangled, although Schultz said police have an object they believed was used to kill her.
By T.J. Wilham
Journal Staff Writer
Albuquerque Journal
abqjournal.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 14, 2007
Slam the City's Door On Itinerant Salesmen
Editorial
Albuquerque Journal
Friday, December 14, 2007
Door-to-door sales. It's a business model few think about in an era of bustling malls, online sales and overnight shipping. But in light of two traveling magazine salesmen being charged in the brutal killings of Albuquerqueans Tak and Pung Yi, it's a business model that has no business here. Several alert Metro-area residents were bothered enough by aggressive salesmen last week to call police. Their tips— about a man in the Northeast Heights trying to talk his way into a home, and another in Rio Rancho— led to the arrests of Michael Joseph Lee, 21, and Travis R. Rowley, 23, in the Dec. 4 slayings. According to police, Integrity Program LLC of Las Vegas, Nev., dropped the pair off in the Yis' neighborhood that Tuesday, where they forced their way into the elderly couple's home, robbed, beat and killed them. Since 1933 some municipalities have banned door-to-door sales. Called Green River ordinances after the Wyoming town that took on the Fuller Brush Co., the laws have been upheld as long as they don't include religious and noncommercial solicitations. Albuquerque should consider enacting one. Meanwhile, residents solicited at the door should ask to see a city permit. They should emulate the folks who called police to report suspicious or scary behavior. Or, when they hear the knock, they should consider the Better Business Bureau's advice: Don't buy from door-to-door magazine salesmen. Don't open up to an obsolete business model that's still trying to jam its foot in the door.
Editorial
Albuquerque Journal
abqjournal.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Bismarck, North Dakoda
Magazine Sales Company Banned In North Dakota !!!
December 14, 2007
Company Ordered to Stop Selling
Magazine Subscriptions in ND
KFYR-TV
12/14/2007
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says he has ordered a Nevada company to stop selling magazine subscriptions in North Dakota. Stenehjem said Las Vegas-based Southwest Subscriptions, doing business as New Horizon Sales, did not have a transient merchant`s license in North Dakota. Stenehjem said the business also failed to notify people ages 65 and older of their 15-day right of cancellation. The attorney general said the company`s salesmen sold magazine subscriptions door-to-door, claiming they were in a contest to earn points to win a trip. KFYR-TV
kfyrtv.com
Bismarck, North Dakoda
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Houston, Texas
Door-To-Door Magazine Sales Scam Alert !!!
December 14, 2007
Scam ripping neighborhood residents off
KTRK ABC 13 Houston, Texas
Friday, December 14, 2007 | 10:38 PM
HOUSTON -- Some residents in Bellaire and the Meyerland area say they've been ripped off by door-to-door scam artists. The young con artists claim to be selling magazines to raise money for a sports program. Once they receive a check they take off. Most of the victims have been taken for between $50 and $100 a piece. Police are warning residents not to open their door to anyone they do now know. KTRK ABC 13
abclocal.go.com
Houston, Texas
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Springfield, Missouri
Door-To-Door Magazine Sales Scam Alert !!!
December 13, 2007
Man charged for falsely soliciting Springfield businesses
By SBJ Staff
Springfield Business Journal
Missouri
12/13/2007 11:11:43 AM
A man accused of falsely soliciting donations from Springfield businesses in September is now facing five counts of unlawful merchandising practices. Attorney General Jay Nixon and Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Darrell Moore have jointly charged Timothy C. Connor, 37, according to a Nixon news release. He is believed to be a peripatetic – someone who moves about frequently – and his home address is unknown, according to the release. Connor allegedly entered several Springfield businesses in mid-September and told employees that he was selling magazine subscriptions or seeking donations to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters or Boys and Girls Clubs, the release said. He was allegedly given between $25 and $35 at some of the businesses. Unlawful merchandising practices is a class D felony in Missouri and is punishable by up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. By SBJ Staff
Springfield Business Journal
sbj.net
Missouri
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Torrance,California
Door-To-Door Magazine Salesman Alert !!!
December 11, 2007
`Salesman' likely just a thief, police say
By Larry Altman, Staff Writer
larry.altman@dailybreeze.com
Daily Breeze - Torrance,CA,USA
Article Launched: 12/11/2007 11:28:41 PM PST
A man purporting to be a door-to-door magazine salesman robbed a San Pedro woman of $400, sparking concern that the rest of his sales are crooked, police said Tuesday. Detectives at the Los Angeles Police Department's Harbor Division are trying to identify the man, whose picture was snapped during a Saturday visit to a victim's bank in an Albertsons supermarket, Detective Maurice Graham said. The blond-haired, blue-eyed man went from house to house on streets near Paseo del Mar on Saturday, pitching magazines for sale and saying the money would help him go to college, Graham said. He told people they could subscribe to magazines or make donations to reading material that would be sent overseas to troops in Iraq. "We believe it's all fake," Graham said. "It's just a ruse to get the money and the checks." One person gave him $200 cash; another gave him $50 cash and a $200 check; and another handed him $80, Graham said. His last victim said she had no money, but asked him to go with her to her bank so she could withdraw money. She put the money in an envelope and stuffed it into her sun visor of her car. When they returned to her house, he hesitated, but then grabbed the money and ran, Graham said. The young man gave receipts to his donors that said "Youth Incentive Marketing Inc." Graham said detectives are working with the company to try to figure out if he indeed worked for them. Police do not know if the man was legitimately working and "went astray," Graham said. The man is white, 18 to 20 years old and about 5-foot-8. His jacket in the surveillance photo appears to say "Hollister." Anyone with information about the man is asked to contact Detective Christopher Giles at 310-522-2028. Anyone seeing him should contact 911.
larry.altman@dailybreeze.com By Larry Altman, Staff Writer
larry.altman@dailybreeze.com
Daily Breeze
dailybreeze.com Torrance,CA,USA
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D.M.P.G. Info Clip
December 21, 2007

Research into the above magazine sales crew - Youth Incentive Marketing Inc. uncovers the following info:

Website:
american cash award
List of Magazine Sales Crews:
Coast to Coast Circulations, Inc
Gemini Subscriptions
No Limit Sales
Face to Face Technologies, Inc
Performance Clearing Services, Inc
Rollout Promotions, Inc
Dynasty Technologies, Inc
Love Technologies, Inc
Great Lakes Circulation, Inc
Magazines, Inc
Fun Sales, Inc
Youth Incentive Marketing, Inc
Creative Marketing, Inc
Prolific Marketing, LLC
Gold Coast Circulation, Inc
New Image Sales, Inc
Rainbow Sales, Inc
Southern Marketing Group, LLC
Yoli and Associates, Inc
Editorials International, Inc

Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 11, 2007
Watch groups say door-to-door sales crews like indentured servants
By Maggie Shepard (Contact)
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
About three times a month, on average, traveling magazine sales crews commit crimes ranging from petty theft to homicide, according to a parent-organized watch group founded by a man whose daughter was killed during her stint with a sales team. "In the last eight years, we've logged 280 high-profile cases," said Phil Ellenbecker, the watch group's founder. His Web site, travelingsalescrews.info, keeps court records, corporate lineages, testimonials and a chronology of crimes attributed to or suffered by members of the traveling sales groups. The latest additions to the list are two homicides in Albuquerque's Northeast Heights, though suspects Travis Rowley and Michael Lee have not been indicted, much less convicted, on the murder charges on which they were arrested. The list, which Ellenbecker said is culled from media reports — including a lengthy New York Times investigation of the industry in February —along with first-person accounts, paints a picture of roving bands of bandits, murderers, rapists, kidnappers and swindlers. Industry officials told the New York Times they don't condone violence or drug use and don't abuse their workers. The stories persist, however, and especially vulnerable, Ellenbecker's list suggests, are female crew members, who have been assaulted or killed in secluded areas. In December 2006, a 19-year-old crew member was found in the woods outside Memphis, Tenn. She was last seen selling subscriptions at a gas station in Arkansas, according to media reports and Ellenbecker's list. That same month, a 27-year-old crew member was arrested and charged with dragging a 16-year-old boy into some bushes and attempting to rape him in Vista, Calif. The two incidents were among dozens of homicides the list attributes to magazine sales crews and the lifestyle that accompanies them. The list also details assaults, petty larceny arrests and crew members found with numerous outstanding warrants. In New Mexico, the 2005 slaying of Benjamin Suazo outside a Santa Fe bowling alley is attributed to a traveling magazine sales team. One of the crew members who is no longer facing charges in Suazo's death was recently charged with kidnapping a fellow crew member in California when the member tried to leave the crew, according to news reports. That, Ellenbecker said, is another dirty detail of magazine sales crews, which he calls a type of indentured servitude. Crew members earn about $20 a day, far less than is promised by their employers, Ellenbecker said. When Rowley was booked into jail Saturday, he had $1.55 to his name, according to Metro Detention Center documents. Lee had none. Without sufficient earnings, members who want to leave the crew are stuck without money for a bus ticket home, Ellenbecker said. Another group, parentwatch.org, provides free bus tickets to any crew member who calls seeking help, Ellenbecker said. "Some crews are better than others, but buying something from any of these groups promotes crime," Ellenbecker said. "The kids are exploited." By Maggie Shepard (Contact)
Albuquerque Journal
abqjournal.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 11, 2007
Magazine Firm Known for Exploitation
By Olivier Uyttebrouck
Journal Staff Writer
Albuquerque Journal
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
A Las Vegas, Nev., firm that employed two salesmen charged in the killings of an elderly Albuquerque couple is a troubled firm in an industry notorious for scams and exploitation of young workers, business watchdogs said Monday. Integrity Program LLC, a book and magazine sales company, has racked up 125 customer complaints in the past 36 months, according to the Nevada Better Business Bureau. Only last week, Texas Children's Hospital in Houston issued a consumer alert warning that Integrity Program was running a phony fundraising scheme that purported to benefit the hospital, according to a hospital spokeswoman. A similar warning was issued by the Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation in April. A phone number listed for Integrity Program was not in service Monday. E-mail requests sent to the firm's agent, Terra Robbins, were not returned. On Monday, City Council President Brad Winter said councilors need to re-examine the city law that regulates the activities of door-to-door sales with an eye toward strengthening enforcement. But the problem is complicated by the stealthy nature of sales groups that often enter the city and leave before authorities learn they are here, he said. "They need to be registered and get a photo permit, but it's not being done," Winter said. "They come and they leave. They're basically in here incognito." Michael Joseph Lee, 21, and Travis R. Rowley, 23, were arrested Friday by Albuquerque police. Each faces two counts of murder in the Dec. 4 deaths of Tak Yi, 79, and his wife, Pung Yi, 69. Each remained jailed Monday in lieu of $2 million cash-only bonds. Under Albuquerque's ordinance, door-to-door salesmen are required to have a permit that includes a photograph. City officials remained uncertain Monday whether Lee and Rowley had an ID. The Better Business Bureau has issued an "unsatisfactory" record for Integrity Programs due to a large volume of complaints. Door-to-door sales companies have a history of exploiting young people they recruit to sell books and magazine subscriptions, said Jerry Shipman, president of the Better Business Bureau of the Southwest based in Albuquerque. "Usually, these people make so little money, they have no options," Shipman said of the sales recruits. "They have limited contact with their families. It's hard for them to get out of that situation." In the case of Integrity Program, the firm racks up three to five customer complaints a month, ranging from nondelivery and false billing to product misrepresentation, the business group reported. "That's a very large number of complaints," Shipman said. He advised consumers to reject any efforts to sell books or magazines on the doorstep. "The customer who buys from them must be aware that they're sustaining a practice that's harmful both to customers and the sales people — the teenager recruited to do this," he said. By Olivier Uyttebrouck
Journal Staff Writer
Albuquerque Journal
abqjournal.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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San Antonio, Texas
Integrity Program
Sales Fraud !!!
December 11, 2007
Door-To-Door Sales Group May Be Preying on San Antonio Generosity
Reported by: Kim Fischer
Email: kimfischer@woai.com
WOAI News 4
Last Update: 12/11/07; 7:26 am
News 4 discovered the track record behind a sales company is enough to make you not want to open your door. (News 4) A traveling sales group is in San Antonio, and they may be preying on your generosity. College age kids may come to your door say they're raising money for a school trip, and sending magazines to the troops. News 4 found out that may not be the truth. The kids are clean cut and say they live in your neighborhood. But News 4 discovered the kids live nowhere near San Antonio, and the track record behind the company they work for is enough to make you not want to open your door. "I opened the door, and it was a young kid, bout 18-years-old, blonde hair," explained homeowner Michael, who didn't want to give his last name. He told News 4 he got an uneasy feeling about the young man named "Travis" from the beginning. "He said he was a UT student, and that he's selling magazine subscriptions to sell to the troops," said Michael. But Michael said when it came time to pay, Travis changed his story. "He said that I could make it out to the school in the beginning of the conversation. Then he changed it to make it out the Integrity Program" explained Michael. Michael wrote a check, but quickly got online to investigate Integrity. His search pulled up countless negative blogs and reports on the company. "So, I put my shoes on and walked outside, and he had already begun giving the spiel to a neighbor that was standing outside," Michael said. Michael demanded his money back, called police, and then called News 4. News 4 found out that the Integrity Program is based in Las Vegas and does not have a good reputation there. "Certainly, this company has an unsatisfactory record with us here in Las Vegas," said Sylvia Campbell of the Las Vegas Better Business Bureau. But it doesn't stop there. Two men were arrested in Albuquerque Saturday for the brutal murder of an elderly couple. "These two were affiliated with Integrity Program out of Las Vegas, Nevada," said John Walsh of the Albuquerque Police Department. The Albuquerque Police Department said the motive was theft. The two men were also in the same group that's in San Antonio now. Police say no matter how convincing, when it comes to solicitors like this, it's best to just say 'no thank you,' and send them away. If you want to give to the troops, they say it's best to find an organization on your own. Reported by: Kim Fischer
Email: kimfischer@woai.com
WOAI News 4
San Antonio, Texas
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San Antonio, Texas
Integrity Program
Sales Fraud !!!
December 11, 2007
Be Wary Of Door-To-Door Magazine Sales
Some Door-To-Door Salespeople May Use Unsavory Tactics
KSAT 12
POSTED: 3:39 pm CST December 11, 2007
UPDATED: 3:53 pm CST December 11, 2007
SAN ANTONIO -- Mike Chapa had a visitor at his door one day and now he’s warning you to be on the lookout. The young man, “Travis,” he introduced himself as, claimed to be a student at the University of Texas at Austin and was going door-to-door in an attempt to sell magazine subscriptions for a trip to London. The young man told Chapa he lived down the street and said that Chapa likely had seen his mother walking their golden retriever through the neighborhood. That’s when the sales pitch came. Chapa was offered the opportunity to purchase magazine subscriptions at discounted prices, and even if he didn’t want the magazines he paid for, they could be sent to troops serving overseas. “So I figured I could help him out and help the troops out with reading material,” Chapa said. Chapa wrote the young man’s company – Integrity Program – a check for $25. “Something didn’t feel right, but I trusted him because he said he was the neighbor’s kid,” Chapa said. After having second thoughts, Chapa found the young man at another home down the street and asked for his money back. KSAT 12 attempted to contact Integrity Program at its offices in Las Vegas, but the number is disconnected. The company’s Web site read that the contractors are self-employed. A report from the Better Business Bureau lists more than 120 complaints for dishonest sales and non-delivery of products ordered. Other consumer Web sites list multiple stories from unsatisfied customers of Integrity Program including claims of dishonest sales tactics such as vacation prizes for contractors and relation to neighborhood residents. KSAT 12
ksat.com
San Antonio, Texas
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 11, 2007
Door-to-Door Salesmen Based in Las Vegas Kill Elderly Couple Edward Lawrence, Reporter 8 HD CBS lasvegasnow eyewitness news
Updated: Dec 11, 2007 08:32 PM CST Two magazine salesmen in Albuquerque are accused of murdering an elderly couple. Now it's been learned the company claims to be based in Las Vegas. The crime highlights a problem both Metro police and the state's attorney general's office have been working on in Nevada. This neighborhood like many others in Las Vegas sees its share of door-to-door salespeople. We've all had them. A knock around dinner time, there's a younger looking person at the door giving a story about a school trip or charity. The pitch is -- just buy a magazine to help the cause. Vincent Barajas feels safe walking through his neighborhood. He takes a couple of his dogs for a walk almost every day. Those dogs also make sure the wrong people stay away from his front door. "I have two pit bulls and the German shepherd and people -- they sense that in people because there are some people they just don't like at all," said Barajas. Last week in Albuquerque, police say two door-to-door magazine salesmen murdered an elderly couple. According to Albuquerque police reports, the two were dropped off with 15 other salespeople. Instead of selling, the police reports say Michael Lee and Travis Rowley robbed the couple. Then the report says Lee suffocated the wife and stomped on the husband's head until he died. Both Lee and Rowley worked for Integrity Program, LLC, based in Las Vegas. The Better Business Bureau lists the company address near the intersection of Maryland and Sahara. The phone number has been disconnected and the office was not at the address. Metro police officer Bill Cassell says this crime highlights the need to be cautious when anyone comes to the door. "Ask them to show you their identification. They should have some type of ID. Usually it's a hand badge," said Cassell. Cassell says call the company to verify the salesperson is who they say they are. He adds always talk through the door while it's locked. "If you do feel you want to take them up on their solicitation, buy a magazine or whatever it is they are selling -- and you are home alone, wait until there is someone else with you," he said. That means asking them to come back later or use Barajas' plan to weed out the bad element. "My dogs, yeah. They do let us know," said Barajas. The bottom line is be cautious. The state's attorney general's office says there have been more than 20 complaints against Integrity Program in Nevada. The state Consumer Affairs division is also taking action against another company for selling subscriptions to another 20 people and never delivering. The recommendation from the state is not to buy anything at your door because too many bad apples outweigh the honest dealers. Las Vegas Metro police put tips for preventing home invasion from someone knocking at your door on YouTube. Edward Lawrence, Reporter
8 HD CBS lasvegasnow eyewitness news
lasvegasnow.com
Las Vegas, Nevada
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 10, 2007
Alleged killers latest linked to door-to-door violence
Reporter: Addie Knowlton | Web Producer: Bill Diven
KRQE NEWS 13
Posted: Dec 10, 2007 11:15 PM CST
ALBUQUERQUE - The two traveling salesmen accused of murdering an elderly Albuquerque couple had not applied for city permits to be selling magazines door-to-door in the city. Travis Rowley, 23, and Michael Lee, 21, are accused of beating the couple to death during a daytime robbery while out selling magazines last week. It's not the first time salespeople have been implicated in crimes in New Mexico. It's happened before in Albuquerque and in Santa Fe where door-to-door salespeople who become violent. In January 2004, Amber Armitage told KRQE News 13 two 20-year-old women came to her door selling magazines. When she refused to buy, she said one woman pushed her inside the house and then beat her against a wall. Then in October 2005, Santa Fe police reported four magazine salesmen in an SUV ran over and killed a man in a bowling alley parking lot. Then last week Tak Yi, 79, and his wife, Pung Yi, 69, were found dead in their home, and within days Albuquerque police arrested Rowley and Lee. The city of Albuquerque requires door-to-door salesmen to get permits by paying a fee, providing photographs and proving they have not been convicted of a crime in the past 10 years. But city officials conceded the ordinance is difficult to enforce. "It's hard for us to tell if someone just comes into town one day with a van full of folks," Ed Adams, the city's chief operations officer, said. "We're not going to know that if somebody doesn't give us some help." Adams said he would encourages citizens to call the city's 311 help linveif approached by salespeople. City officials said there is little the city can do to completely eliminate door-to-door sales. Some cities have tried, but recent decisions by the U. S. Supreme Court found total bans to be unconstitutional. It's a misdemeanor crime to violate the ordinance punishable with a fine of up to $500 and 90 days in jail. Reporter: Addie Knowlton | Web Producer: Bill Diven
KRQE NEWS 13
krqe.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 10, 2007
Boston native a suspect in couple's killing
Man faces charges in New Mexico
The Boston Globe
By Associated Press | December 10, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE - Two traveling salesmen, including one born in Massachusetts, robbed an elderly Albuquerque couple before beating and suffocating the wife and fatally stomping on the husband's head, according to criminal complaints. Michael Lee, 21, who was born in Boston, and Travis Rowley, 23, a native of Glendora, Calif., have been charged with two open counts of murder and tampering with evidence in the killings. Tak Yi, 79, and his 69-year-old wife, Pung Yi, were killed in their home Tuesday. Lee and Rowley worked for IntegrityPGM, a Las Vegas-based company that contracts young people to sell magazine and book subscriptions nationwide. The two men, who were booked as transients, arrived in Albuquerque Dec. 2 with about 15 salesmen, who have since left town. They are being held on a $2 million bond. Family members told investigators that jewelry, several cameras, and credit cards were missing from the home. According to the criminal complaints, Rowley and Lee were dropped off in the Yis's neighborhood to sell the subscriptions when they saw Tak Yi working in his backyard. Rowley told police that Lee said he was going to "steal an item from the home." Lee allegedly punched an elderly woman who fell to the floor, and Rowley reportedly dragged her into the home. Then, Tak Yi entered the home and tried to call police, Rowley told authorities. After punching the man twice, Rowley said Lee suffocated the woman and then walked over to the man and stomped his foot on his head, the complaint said. Rowley said he believed the "blow was fatal." The Boston Globe
By Associated Press | December 10, 2007
libertypost.org
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Original URL: boston.com
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 10, 2007
Door-to-Door Salesmen Charged in Death of New Mexico Couple
foxnews.com
Monday, December 10, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE — Two traveling salesmen robbed an elderly Albuquerque couple before beating and suffocating the wife and stomping on the husband's head, according to criminal complaints. Michael Lee, 21, who was born in Boston, and Travis Rowley, 23, a native of Glendora, Calif., have been charged with two open counts of murder and tampering with evidence in the killings. Korean immigrants Tak Yi, 79, and his 69-year-old wife, Pung Yi, were killed in their home Tuesday. Lee and Rowley worked for IntegrityPGM, a Las Vegas, Nev.-based company that contracts young people to sell magazine and book subscriptions nationwide. The two men, who were booked as transients, arrived in Albuquerque Dec. 2 with about 15 salesmen, who have since left town. They are being held on a $2 million bond. Family members told investigators that jewelry, several cameras and credit cards were missing from the home, the complaints showed. According to the criminal complaints, Rowley and Lee were dropped off in the Yis' neighborhood to sell the subscriptions when they saw Tak Yi working in his backyard. Rowley told police that Lee said he was going to "steal an item from the home." Lee allegedly punched an elderly woman who fell to the floor, and Rowley reportedly dragged her into the home. Then Tak Yi entered the home and tried to call police, Rowley told police. After punching the man twice, Rowley said Lee suffocated the woman and then walked over to the man and stomped his foot on his head, the complaint said. Rowley said he believed the "blow was fatal." foxnews.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 9, 2007
New Details Uncovered In Double Homicide Investigation
KOAT-TV
KOAT 7
POSTED: 4:31 pm MST December 9, 2007
UPDATED: 12:40 pm MST December 10, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- New details have emerged in a double homicide investigation in northeast Albuquerque. Tak and Pung Yi, prominent members of Albuquerque's Korean community, were found dead in their home on Tuesday. Immediately, Albuquerque police began piecing together clues. Since that time, APD took Michael Joseph Lee and Travis Rowley into custody. The men now face two open counts of murder. Court documents allege Lee and Rowley were going door-to-door in the Yis neighborhood selling magazines and books. When first questioned by police, Lee said he went to the Yi home, but never went inside, according to police. When police questioned Travis Rowley, they said they learned something different. Court records allege Rowley said Lee told him that he was going to go into the Yi home and steal something. Rowley alleges Lee slipped in through the home's garage. Rowley said he only went into the home after hearing Lee yelling obscenities. Rowley alleges he saw Lee punch a woman in the head, then hit a man and stomp on his head. "I'm glad we know who did it and why. But it is a sad, sad thing," said Kyong Lee, a friend of the Yi family. "They were a lovely couple. They loved each other. They loved their family." Lee and Rowley are both in custody on a $2 million bond. KOAT-TV
KOAT 7
koat.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 9, 2007
Police: Robbery motive in couple's slayings
By | The New Mexican and wire services
12/9/07
santafenewmexican.com
ALBUQUERQUE — Two traveling salesmen robbed an elderly Albuquerque couple before beating and suffocating the wife and stomping on the husband's head, according to criminal complaints. Michael Lee, 21, who was born in Boston, and Travis Rowley, 23, a native of Glendora, Calif., have been charged with two open counts of murder and tampering with evidence in the killings. Korean immigrants Tak Yi, 79, and his 69-year-old wife, Pung Yi, were killed in their home Tuesday. Lee and Rowley worked for IntegrityPGM, a Las Vegas, Nev.-based company that contracts young people to sell magazine and book subscriptions nationwide. The two men, who were booked as transients, arrived in Albuquerque on Dec. 2 with about 15 salesmen, who have since left town. They are being held on a $2 million bond. By | The New Mexican and wire services
santafenewmexican.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 9, 2007
Slain Couple Had Big Hearts
Sunday, December 9, 2007
By Caleb Fort
Journal Staff Writer
A memorial for a slain Albuquerque couple drew about 250 people to the Korean United Methodist Church on Saturday. Some of the mourners travelled from Korea to provide support to the family of Tak and Pung Yi, who were found dead Tuesday at their Northeast Heights home by their son. John Hampton, a relative of the couple, said the family is having a hard time dealing with the deaths but appreciated the sympathy. "They're touched and moved by the reaction of the community," he said. "Both the Korean community and others have been amazing." The church parking lot quickly filled, and late-comers had to park on the dirt shoulder. Pung Yi was a member of the church. Harold Walling , also one of the couple's relatives, described them as sweet, gentle people who would "give the shirt off their back" to help someone in need. Hampton said they were "slight in stature, big in heart." Two travelling magazine salesmen, Travis Rowley, 23, and Mike Lee, 21, have been charged with two open counts of murder. By Caleb Fort
Journal Staff Writer
Albuquerque Journal
abqjournal.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 9, 2007
Criminal complaint details Yis' murders
Reporter: Mike Paluska | Web Producer: Todd Dukart
KRQE NEWS 13
Posted: Dec 9, 2007 06:52 PM CST
ALBUQUERQUE - Two men accused of beating an elderly Albuquerque couple to death allegedly entered their home through the garage, according to a criminal complaint. Travis Rowley, 23, and Mike Lee, 21, were arraigned today. Each is charged with two open counts of murder and tampering with evidence. According to a criminal complaint, Rowley and Lee allegedly entered the home of Tak Yi, 79, and Pung Yi, 69, last Tuesday through the couple's open garage. While in the home, the men allegedly stole cameras, jewelry and credit cards, and allegedly severely beat the Yis to death. Both men told police they were transients and had only lived in the area for about a week, selling magazines door to door. A state background check showed no felony convictions for Rowley. Lee had admitted to a lengthy juvenile criminal record - two felony convictions and four misdemeanors. Each is being held on a $2 million cash-only bond. Reporter: Mike Paluska | Web Producer: Todd Dukart
KRQE NEWS 13
krqe.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 8, 2007
Magazine salesmen held in Yi murders
Reporter: Addie Knowlton | Web Producer: Bill Diven
KRQE NEWS 13
Posted: Dec 8, 2007 12:25 AM CST
ALBUQUERQUE - Albuquerque police said they're confident they've found the two men who murdered an older couple earlier this week. Late today at a news conference police announced they have taken into custody two men who were selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door. They were identified as Travis Rowley, 23, and Mike Lee, 21. Investigators said Rowley matches the man in a composite sketch police released Wednesday. Investigators also said it was tips from the community that helped find the suspects. Today Albuquerque Police Department Chief Ray Schultz thanked the community for calling in tips. He said police were inundated with calls after releasing the sketch and description Rowley was taken into custody in Rio Rancho after police acted on tips that he was in the area selling magazines. Lee was picked up on the Westside today. Police said the men are transients from Dallas who travel all over the country selling magazines for a company called Integrity Program Sales. The two are accused of murdering Pung Yi, 69, and her husband, and Tak Yi, 79, who were found dead in their northeast Albuquerque home Tuesday. They'd both suffered head trauma. Police said there was no forced entry into the Yi's home, and it wasn't ransacked. Investigators are still looking for a motive. "This investigation is still in the beginning," Schultz said. "A lot of work needs to be done tonight, this weekend, and into next week." Police are trying to put together a timeline of Tuesday. They're asking anyone who may have come in contact with the two men Tuesday night to call Crime Stoppers at 843-STOP (843-7867). Police said Rowley and Lee will both be charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence, and conspiracy. Reporter: Addie Knowlton | Web Producer: Bill Diven
KRQE NEWS 13
krqe.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 8, 2007
Tip from Rio Rancho resident helped trip two charged in Yi slayings
By Maggie Shepard (Contact)
Albuquerque Tribune
Saturday, December 8, 2007
A tip from an alert Rio Rancho resident led to the arrests of two men suspected in the slaying of a Northeast Heights couple. The tip came Thursday, and by Friday afternoon, police had charged traveling magazine salesmen Travis Rowley, 23, and Michael J. Lee, 21, with murder. Both men are being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in lieu of $2 million bond. Rowley and Lee, members of a sales team, were set to leave the Albuquerque area today, police said. The cascade of events began when a resident at one of the homes where Rowley stopped in the Enchanted Hills area of Rio Rancho called Rio Rancho police with a tip Thursday afternoon, about 48 hours after the bodies of Tak Yi, 79, and his wife, Pung Yi, 69, were were discovered. Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said when Rio Rancho police arrived in the area they found a man walking down the street, confronted him, then decided he so closely matched an artist's sketch of a "person of interest" developed earlier that they took him into custody. The man, Rowley, was held overnight at Sandoval County Jail and was turned over to Albuquerque police Friday. An interview Friday tied Rowley to the home where the Yis were killed. Detectives say Rowley also told them of an accomplice. Lee was then picked up on the West Side, doing what he was doing when police say he and Rowley killed the Yis: selling magazine subscriptions. Homicide Sgt. Carlos Argueta said the motive in the killings isn't clear, and police have yet to say how the Yis were killed. Schultz said he expects more details about the deaths to be available Monday or Tuesday. But what was made clear at a news conference announcing Rowley and Lee's arrest Friday evening was that the young men are not from Albuquerque and were selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door in the city and in Rio Rancho. A man matching Rowley's description was seen Tuesday about a block from the Yis' house on the 6900 block of Avenida la Costa Northeast. Witnesses said the man appeared to be in his teens and that he said he was telling residents he needed money for a school project. A sketch of the man developed from the witnesses' statements eventually led to Rowley's arrest. Tak and Pung Yi were found late Tuesday afternoon when one of their sons checked in on them. Both suffered severe head trauma, though police have not said whether they were beaten, shot or stabbed. Police said the home had not been ransacked and officers didn't find a gun or other obvious weapon. Schultz said trace evidence in the case, which might be tracked through DNA testing, is extremely important. He has also said keeping key details confidential is important to the "sanctity of this case." Detectives hoped to find where the two men were staying and to conduct interviews with about 20 people, including some of the men's magazine sales team members. The men worked for a company called Integrity PGM, a Las Vegas, Nev., company featured in several news reports and numerous blogs as a scam company exploiting dangerous and wayward youths by forcing them to peddle subscriptions in city after city while withholding money and decent living condition. No phone contact is available for Integrity PGM, but pictures of salespeople and a company description are available on their Web site (integritypgm.com). Detectives on Friday night had not figured out where Rowley or Lee are from originally or whether either has a criminal record. Argueta said detectives learned that the team canvassing Albuquerque and Rio Rancho in the past week had been planning to leave the area today, and that without the tips from the public the two suspects might not have been located. "They'd been out in the public since Tuesday," Argueta said. "And they were headed West." His team of about 25 detectives plan on searching nationally for related crimes. Lee and Rowley are charged with an open count of murder, conspiracy and tampering with evidence. By Maggie Shepard (Contact)
Albuquerque Tribune
abqtrib.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 7, 2007
Suspect talks in double murder investigation
By: Eyewitness News 4
kob.com
Posted at: 12/07/2007 06:36:31 PM
Updated at: 12/08/2007 07:34:41 PM
The suspects, Mike Lee and Travis Rowley, wore hooded jump suits as they were escorted by police FridayPolice say they have a confession in the double murder of an elderly couple. Travis Rowley, 23, said he only wanted to sell a half order of books to Tak and Pung Yi when his sales partner, 21-year-old Mike Lee decided to steal something from their home. According to an arrest warrant, Rowley said he saw Lee punch and then kill both victims. He told police shortly after his arrest Lee “suffocated the female to death, walked over to the male victim and stomped his foot on the male victim's head." Police took Lee and Rowley into custody Friday afternoon. The men were selling magazine subscriptions in the northeast heights neighborhood when they came to the victims' home. Tak Yi, 79, and his wife Pung Yi, 69, were found dead in their house with what police call massive head trauma. The suspects are not Albuquerque natives. Police say they are from Dallas, Texas. APD has acquired several search warrants and is continuing its investigation. Rowley and Lee are both being held on an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy. By: Eyewitness News 4
kob.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 7, 2007
Arrests Made In Double Homicide
KOAT 7
POSTED: 6:57 pm MST December 7, 2007
UPDATED: 9:37 am MST December 8, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Two arrests have been made in the double murder of an elderly northeast Albuquerque couple. Police said Travis Rowley, 23, and Mike Lee, 21, were arrested Friday in connection with the deaths of Tak and Pung Yi, who were found found dead in their home earlier this week. Police said the victims suffered massive head trauma. The death was a shock to Albuquerque's Korean community. Police said Rowley and Lee were transients from the Dallas area. They were working in Albuquerque selling magazines door-to-door for a company called Integrity PGM Sales. Police said the Albuquerque community was very helpful, contributing up to six tips per hour. Police said a circulated artist sketch matched Rowley's appearance. Rowley and Lee will be transported to the Metro Detention Center Friday evening and charged with two open counts of murder. Both are being held on a $2 million dollar cash only bond. If you have information or if the two men came to your house trying to sell magazines, you are asked to call rime Stoppers at 843-STOP. KOAT 7
koat.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Durango Colorado
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Alert !!!
December 7, 2007
Police cite solicitors for selling in the city
December 7, 2007
By Shane Benjamin | Herald Staff Writer
The Durango Herald
The Durango Police Department is warning residents that door-to-door solicitation in city limits is illegal. On Tuesday, police cited Integrity Subscriptions for selling magazine subscriptions to residents on Delwood Avenue, said Sgt. Tony Archuleta. Police responded to the neighborhood after receiving a couple of complaints from residents, he said. It was unknown how many sales people were going door-to-door. In the past, as many as 12 individuals have been dropped off in town to solicit products for any one company, Archuleta said. "You can't go door-to-door like that at all," he said. Those caught soliciting can be fined as much as $1,000 in municipal court. Residents who want to report unwelcome solicitation can call police at 385-2900. Archuleta warned residents not to give cash, checks or credit-card information to solicitors, with the exception of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. "You really have no guarantee that you're going to get your magazine subscription, even if you give them a check," he said. By Shane Benjamin | Herald Staff Writer
The Durango Herald
durangoherald.com
Durango, Colorado
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Albuquerque New Mexico
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales
Double Homicide
December 6, 2007
Albuquerque police seek man of interest in double homicide
By Maggie Shepard (Contact)
Albuquerque Tribune
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Albuquerque police released this sketch of a man they say is of interest in the double homicide. Invoking the specter of the infamous 1996 Hollywood Video murders, Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said his department will be handling information in the city's latest homicides with the same hyper-caution. Tak Yi, 79, and his wife, Pung Yi, 69, were found dead in their home on the 6900 block of Avenida La Costa Northeast on Tuesday afternoon by their son, who had stopped to check on them. The two suffered massive trauma to their heads, but police aren't releasing whether that trauma was a beating, shooting or stabbing. That is just one of the details that needs to be managed to keep control of "a very complex case," Schultz said at a news conference Wednesday. But unlike in the Hollywood Video murders, when news media were criticized for releasing too much information, Schultz did provide the public with some details. He also asked for publicity of a sketch of a man police are calling a person of interest. The man, believed to be white, in his teens or early 20s and about 5 feet 11 inches tall, had earlier in the week approached a home about a block from the Yi household. The man had a conversation with the homeowner and asked to come inside the home, Schultz said. The man is being targeted as a person of interest because of his "very unusual behavior" in the neighborhood on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, but Schultz would not say what he had done beyond the conversation with the neighbor. Police say there seems to be no sign of forced entry into the Yi home. And Schultz said detectives are working with the Yis' four children to determine whether items are missing from the home. "There does not seem to be a clear motive," Schultz said. "We are pulling all the stops out on this case." The couple's son told police he had not heard from them for a day and checked on them around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. He called police for help, police spokesman John Walsh said. Officers found one of the victims in a hallway and the other in the kitchen. Autopsies performed Wednesday are expected to determine what killed the couple. Meanwhile, Schultz said he plans to control the release of information in this case the way it was controlled in the 1996 homicides of five people that began at a Hollywood Video store. Police and then-District Attorney Bob Schwartz railed against local media for releasing too much information, claiming that it jeopardized police efforts to verify thousands of tips from the public. By Maggie Shepard (Contact)
Albuquerque Tribune
abqtrib.com
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Houston Texas
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Scam Alert !!!
December 6, 2007
Hospital has warning of fundraising scam
Local
ABC 13 EYEWITNESS NEWS
Thursday, December 06, 2007 | 5:35 AM HOUSTON -- Texas
Children's Hospital wants to warn you about a scam.
The hospital says someone is going door-to-door trying to sell books and magazines on behalf of the hospital. The scam artists claim the proceeds from the sale will help the 'Magazine for Kid's' program at the hospital. It turns out there is no such fundraising program. A hospital spokesman told Eyewitness News that Texas Children's does not solicit door to door and the 'Magazines for Kids' program does not exist. ABC 13 EYEWITNESS NEWS
abclocal.go.com
Houston, Texas
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Southwest, Florida
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Scam Alert !!!
December 5, 2007
Investigators: scam artists are canvassing Southwest Florida
By WINK News
Story Created: Dec 5, 2007 at 9:20 PM EST
Story Updated: Dec 6, 2007 at 10:46 AM EST
Lee County, Fla. - Investigators say scam artists are out and about this holiday season. Some people are going door to door, asking residents to buy magazines and books, even study abroad trips, to support a charity. Deputies say, don't fall for it. WINK News received reports scam artists were out Tuesday night in the Matera neighborhood in Fort Myers. Investigators believe multiple groups are out there with the same goal - to separate you from your cash, for what you think is a good cause. Kim Dider says her family was watching television Tuesday night, when the scammers knocked on her door. "We hollered for them to come in because we thought it was a friend, and they came in wanting to sell us books to fund a trip to Italy," says Dider. Lee County Sheriff's Investigators say it's a story they're hearing more and more. "You're going to see these people come up with clipboards and some fliers and stuff that looks very official, very professional, but don't let that fool you," says Sgt. Larry King with the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Investigators also say beware of the high pressure tactics the scam artists use. "They wanted cash, they were going to give me nothing in return and I just felt very uncomfortable," says Dider. She turned the men away, but others have fallen prey to similar scams, thinking they were helping U.S. troops. "They said since we didn't need a magazine we could buy one for someone overseas, so we bought one and it turned out it was a scam," says Lillian Newman of Fort Myers. As for who to look out for, deputies say it's not just adults. Some of the door to door solicitors are children. "They prey on people's goodwill I think," says Newman. WINK News called Florida State University's International Studies Program, one of the establishments the scammers are claiming to be with. FSU says they in no way support students raising money this way. If you still feel compelled to give, investigators ask you do your research and ask for a receipt. By WINK News
winknews.com
Southwest Florida
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Madison, Wisconsin
Wisconsin State Journal editorial
November 29, 2007
Shady crews, stay away
Wisconsin ought to trumpet this warning:
A Wisconsin State Journal editorial
THU., NOV 29, 2007 - 5:21 PM
From now on, the owners of shady door-to-door sales businesses had better steer their traveling crews away from Wisconsin. Thanks to a Dunn County court decision, this state has pierced the corporate veil these unscrupulous operators hide behind to escape responsibility for assaults and other crimes committed by members of their crews. They can no longer let their crews loose in Wisconsin without sweating over the risk of personal liability.

By highlighting Wisconsin as a state for shady traveling sales businesses to avoid, the court decision protects the safety not only of Wisconsin consumers but also young people recruited to join the crews.

The list of horror stories involving traveling sales crews across the country includes a 1999 van crash near Janesville that killed seven young crew members. The van was driven by a 20-year-old serial traffic offender whose license was suspended. The company employing the crew was cited for nearly 100 violations of employment and wage laws.

The Dunn County case began, as all too many traveling sales crew stories begin, with a crime. In July 2005, Brandon Green, a Minnesota resident with a criminal history, was selling magazines door-to-door in Menomonie when he violently beat and sexually assaulted a woman in her home.

Green was convicted of second-degree sexual assault.

In such cases the out-of-state business operators in charge of the sales crews count on being able to claim a protection from responsibility that most businesses lack. Shady sales crew operators erect barriers between them and their crews to escape the reach of the courts. With no legal liability, the operators are free to be unscrupulous. Victims trying to sue for damages are out of luck.

That's where this fall's Dunn County case turned in favor of Wisconsin's law-abiding citizens.

With Madison lawyers Jim Olson and John Carlson Jr. from Lawton & Cates making the argument, Judge William Stewart ruled that the corporate veil was no defense.

The decision, upheld by the court of appeals, cleared the way for the victim's lawsuit against corporate officials from three traveling sales crew businesses, all in Florida.

The shady operators are now personally at risk.

Wisconsin should follow up the ruling with improved regulation of traveling sales crews. The state Senate has passed a bill, now awaiting a hearing in an Assembly committee.

Meantime, Wisconsin should advertise its reputation as a state that has put out an unwelcome mat for shady traveling sales crews -- a message that sales crew operators can now ignore only at their own risk.

• Senate Oks Rules For Traveling Sales (April news story)
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• Learn more about traveling crews at parentwatch.org
• Learn more at travelingsalescrews.info

A Wisconsin State Journal editorial
madison.com
Madison, Wisconsin
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For More Information On This Rape Case Click Here

Okaloosa County, Florida
Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Alert !!!
November 27, 2007
Magazine salesman robbed at local apartments
Tom McLaughlin
Northwest Florida Daily News
Tuesday November 27th, 2007
A magazine salesman told deputies he was mugged as he went from door to door at a local apartment complex. Michael Leonard, 25, said two men jumped him and grabbed the satchel he was carrying as he made his way from one apartment to another at the Royale Apartments at the corner of Denton Boulevard and Mayflower Avenue. He said he was pushed down and his magazine order form case and its contents were stolen, an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office report said. Leonard said the two men who attacked him split up as they fled through the apartment complex on foot. The Texas native, who said he was employed by a company called LSS Inc., claimed he’d lost four checks made out to the company, order forms, a price list, a “hot list” with magazine names on it and the case itself, valued at $64. He told deputies the case and its contents could only be replaced by LSS Inc., at a cost of $1,000. Tom McLaughlin
Northwest Florida Daily News
nwfdailynews.com
Northwest Florida
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