This news bulletin was sent exclusively to Email Extra subscribers of The Hunting Report at least 24 hours prior to becoming available to other viewers.
Fraud Victims of Todd Rice/Sonoran Outfitters, ACT NOW for Restitution! (posted January 09, 2018) One of our subscribers caught up in the original controversy surrounding Todd Rice of Sonoran Outfitters recently emailed us with information that an Arizona court had ordered Rice to pay $30,000 in restitution to 10 plaintiffs who had filed suit against him for consumer fraud and had awarded an additional $30,000 for restitution for other victims who come forward within 90 days. We went digging and found this press release:
FLAGSTAFF - Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced that his office obtained a $30,000 consent judgment against Sonoran Outfitters Adventures, LLC, and its owner, Todd Basil Rice. Sonoran Outfitters Adventure, based in Flagstaff, advertised and sold hunting, guiding, and trophy delivery services in Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Mexico. Sonoran Outfitters failed to deliver the hunting, guiding, and/or trophy delivery services to at least 10 consumers who prepaid for the services. The consumers live out of state and had planned to travel to Arizona and Mexico for guided hunts for western deer and/or bighorn sheep. According to the consent judgment, Sonoran Outfitters will pay $30,000 in restitution to 10 consumers who filed complaints with the Arizona Attorney General's Office. Defendants also agreed to pay an additional $30,000 in restitution for any new consumers who file valid consumer fraud claims with the Attorney General's Office against Sonoran Outfitters Adventures within the next 90 days.The consent judgment resolves a consumer fraud lawsuit filed against Sonoran Outfitters by the Attorney General's Office in 2017. The judgment bars Sonoran Outfitters from performing future hunting, guiding, and trophy delivery services as promised to consumers unless Sonoran Outfitters fully refunds all payments. Sonoran Outfitters must also adequately explain in writing all terms of any non-refundable deposit. Sonoran must also pay another $10,000 in civil penalties to the State. To file a complaint against Sonoran Outfitters Adventures, or if you believe you have been the victim of consumer fraud, you can file a consumer complaint by contacting the Attorney General's Office in Phoenix at 602-542-5763, in Tucson at 520-628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at 800-352-8431. Bilingual consumer protection staff members are available to assist. Consumers can also file complaints online by visiting the Attorney General's website at https://www.azag.gov/complaints/consumer.With only 90 days to act, we suggest you move immediately if you feel you have been victimized by Rice. How much you'll be reimbursed will depend on how many other complainants come forward.
You can read the full text of the judgment against Rice here: https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/sites/all/docs/press-release/press-release-files/2018_files/judgments/8961283_85053869_endorsed.pdf. We'll follow up with more detailed information in our February issue. Stay tuned. In the meantime, you can get all the background on the Todd Rice/Sonoran Outfitters controversy at http://www.huntingreport.com/Special_Controversy_Todd_Rice.cfm