A Hayward man has been ordered by a Wisconsin judge to pay more than $16,000 in fines and refunds to his failed newspaper customers who were promised prizes and papers they never received.
Joseph A. Morey, 39, former editor and publisher of the Columbus Pioneer News in south-central Wisconsin, was ordered by Judge James Miller to pay the money. More than $3,000 will go back to consumers -- if Morey can pay.
Morey was investigated by the Wisconsin Depart-ment of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection for selling newspaper subscriptions and offering promotions his customers did not receive. He appeared in Columbia County Court on Friday for a civil forfeiture and restitution hearing.
Morey founded the weekly newspaper in Columbus in January 2009. He charged consumers between $32 and $74 for subscriptions. Morey also promoted subscription sales through a prize drawing promised to be worth $500.
But the prize was never awarded, and the Columbus Pioneer News went out of business after just six issues.
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"It was partially the false prize. But I think the bigger thing was the deceptive business practices. He took people's money for a product and then didn't deliver the product and never gave them their money back,'' Brenda Yaskal, an assistant Columbia County district attorney, told the News Tribune. "Businesses fail all the time. But you can't just take people's money and then walk away.''
The News Tribune was unable to reach Morey on Monday.
The state began the investigation more than a year ago and the case was referred to the Columbia County District Attorney's Office for prosecution. Under the court order, each of the 88 subscribers listed as plaintiffs will receive a full subscription refund. The remaining $13,000 includes the civil forfeiture and court-related fees. Morey was ordered to begin making payments Aug. 1.
"But he said he could only afford $100 per month, so it could take a long time for people to get paid back, if they ever'' do get paid back, Yaskal said.
Morey has been involved with newspapers and Internet sites in the Hayward area and has a record of run-ins with the law in Wisconsin, including obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct and charges of battery and disorderly conduct filed in May in Sawyer County.
