Birthdays

60 charged in scam targeting seniors

MASSOCIATED PRESS INNEAPOLIS — Sixty people have been charged in a wide“Using a tactic like telemarketing magazine sales, these deceitful scam artists bilk hard-earned money from their aging victims — leaving so many fi nancially devastated in their retirement years and without recourse for recovery.” exchange for a large lump sum payment. In reality, victims owed no money. The indictments charge defendants at all levels of spread magazine telemar- MICHAEL PAUL, THE FBI’S SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE IN MINNEAPOLIS the alleged conspiracies, keting scam that authori- including people who ties say netted $300 million years, the defendants used monthly subscription costs. recourse for recovery,” allegedly led the scheme, from more than 150,000 a network of dozens of In reality, the callers had Michael Paul, the FBI’s company owners, call cenelderly and vulnerable peo- fraudulent magazine sales no existing relationship special agent in charge in ter managers, telemarketple nationwide, companies and with victims and signed Minneapolis, said. ers and others. Those who the U.S. attorney’s telemarketing call them up for expensive, new Some of the defendants led the scheme provided office in Minneso- > RELATED centers to carry magazine subscriptions. As are also accused of using a the companies software ta announced Beware of out the scam. Em- a result, consumers ended “cancellation” script that programs that tracked last week. Social Secur- ployees allegedly up having multiple sub- targeted people who had orders, sales, and other

U.S. Attorney ity scam used deceptive scriptions with fraudulent been previous victims. customer information. Erica MacDonald PAGE 12 sales scripts to magazine companies. According to the indict- The U.S. attorney’s office called the scam trick people into “Using a tactic like tele- ments, these defendants says the fraudulent comthe largest elder Clip-n-save making large or marketing magazine sales, took advantage of victims’ panies were operating in fraud scheme in Scam Stop- repeat payments these deceitful scam artists desperation to make the Minnesota, Florida, Georthe country. pers tips to the companies. bilk hard-earned money subscriptions stop and gia, Mississippi, California,

MacDonald PAGE 13 The indictments from their aging victims — offered to consolidate and Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, said the 60 defen- allege that many leaving so many financially cancel existing subscrip- Illinois, Colorado, Arizona, dants face a host of the defendants devastated in their retire- tions and pay off an alleged New Mexico, North Caroliof charges, including con- used a fraudulent “renew- ment years and without “outstanding balance” in na and Arkansas. spiracy, mail fraud, wire al” script in which the telefraud, and violating the Senior Citizens Against marketers falsely claimed to be calling from the What You Need to Know Marketing Scams Act of 1994. The defendants are victim’s existing magazine subscription company with About Prearranging from 14 states and two Canadian provinces. a phony offer to reduce Why Should I “Unfortunately, we live in a world where fraudsters Prearrange Services? are willing to take advan- It’s the right thing to do for you and your tage of seniors, who are family. Here are ve important reasons to plan often trusting and polite. your funeral now: It’s my hope that this prosecution is a call for vigilance and caution,” MacDonald 1. You’ll protect your family from unnecessary pain & expense. said in a statement. 2. You’ll say goodbye in a way that uniquely

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> NOV. 7 John Moxley, 94 John Q. Moxley, “Grandpa John,” of Peck, was born in 1926 to Thornton and Iva Moxley at the 21 Ranch in Waha.

He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1944 and joined the U.S. Army Air Forces. He served until the end of World War II. John married Peggy Jones, and they had a son. They later divorced. John worked at the U.S. Postal Service in Lewiston for 16 years. Later, he was a self-employed beekeeper until retiring in 1999.

He married Carolyn Fuhrman in 1971. They have been married 49 years.

In the 1970s, they did square dancing. John also enjoys woodworking and recycling at Peck, playing cards and going to rodeos to watch bull-riding. He enjoys his family — which includes his son and daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, two granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.

His family plans a small celebration. > NOV. 7 Lee Flerchinger, 92 I’m Lee Michael Flerchinger, born in 1928 in Pomeroy to Alice and Orville Flerchinger. Ask my brother: He’ll agree I was a mischievous tease growing up. I graduated from Pomeroy High and farmed most of my life. I was darn good at it, too. These days, I live in Clarkston, not far from my hometown.

When I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they taught me that families are forever. So I started going backward with my genealogy. I’ve been able to trace one grandparent to 1790. Plenty more to go.

I need to do my wellness checks every year for at least 10 more years. Dad lived to 107, and I want to go beyond that.

I get to do some gardening to replace my farming instincts. That, along with my family — children Mollie, Becky and Dan, brother Marcus, sister Connie Shrum, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren — my church, my friends and genealogy, keep me going. 4 > NOV. 7 Lee Gale, 85

Lee Gale was born in 1935 to Lee and Nettie Gale in Potlatch. He graduated from Potlatch High School in 1953. After attending the University of Idaho for one year, he enlisted in the Navy and served during the Korean conflict. Upon discharge, he returned to UI, graduating with a degree in forest management. In 1973, he received a certificate in logging engineering from Oregon State University. He retired in 1985 from the U.S. Forest Service, after stints at Bungalow, on the Clearwater Forest, and the St. Joe Ranger District in Idaho, and Spotted Bear in Montana. He worked on the Sundance Fire, located roads on several forests, supervised fires and earned a commendation signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson for saving a young man’s life while at Bungalow.

After retirement he enjoyed camping, hiking and hunting and was able to spend 17 seasons as a snowbird to Yuma. These days he enjoys reading, Sudoku and working in his shop.

Family includes his wife, Wilma, two daughters and a son, two stepdaughters, four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

His main objective at this time is to enjoy isolation and to avoid COVID-19.

> NOV. 10 Rose Wallace, 80

Rose Wallace, of Craigmont, was born in 1940 in Keuterville, the sixth of 10 children of Frank and Agnes Reichlin.

As a teen, Rose and sisters Ann and Angie lived in Cottonwood and worked to ease the burden on the family. She married Lawrence “Lou” Wallace on Aug. 28, 1958. They raised their children in Craigmont and built their home paycheck by paycheck, celebrating 60 years of marriage in 2018. She babysat and worked in the Craigmont drug store and at Highland School, retiring in 2007. They then moved to the Wallace ranch in the Morrowtown area.

As her five children grew, Rose was the unofficial employment agency for Craigmont, dispatching her children to lawn mowing, babysitting, house cleaning, rock picking, truck driving and anything else with which callers needed help.

Rose is an excellent cook and seamstress, and enjoys pinochle, garden, canning and entertaining her family whenever possible.

She and Lou were volunteers for Craigmont quick response unit and members of the Craigmont Historical Society, and she’s a longtime member of the Craigmont Legion Auxiliary.

Her family includes two sons, three daughters, 11 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. A celebration has been postponed until next year because of the pandemic. GOLDEN TIMES > NOV. 15 Marie Price, 85

Marie Price was born in 1935, the youngest of six children of Earl and Mary George.

She spent most of her younger years on a Lewiston dairy owned by her parents. She married Joe Price in 1953, and they raised four children: Bonnie, Mike, Monte and Billie. They worked on several cattle ranches in various states, where Marie did her share of building fence, branding, riding, watching over the herd and cooking meals for the ranch hands.

When Joe died in 1984, Marie returned to Lewiston. In 2002, she started Blue Mountain Designs, sewing Oversized Load signs for a local company, safety vests to order and stadium cushions for area schools. She sewed canvas tents to dress shirts and everything in between. Her specialty was making patterns to fit the need.

She retired, but when COVID-19 struck, she began to make face masks (about 800) for family, friends and anyone in need. She wouldn’t charge for them but would say, “Take what you need and be safe.”

Marie makes her home in Lewiston, where she tends a her flowers and rose bushes, with her a faithful companion named “Taz,” and a smile for all who know and love her.

> NOV. 18 Florence Seubert, 90

Florence Seubert of Lewiston was born in 1930 in Cottonwood. She was one of eight children of Albert and Agnus Beckman. In her early years, she worked at Haney Hardware, where she met her husbandto-be, Ben Seubert. They were married June 29, 1953, and moved to Lewiston in 1967, where they still reside in their home. Their family includes five boys, 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Florence proudly raised her children and is a member of All Saints Catholic Church.

Don’t get burned by deadline DECEMBER BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS: Send your information to goldentimes @lmtribune.com by 5 p.m. Nov. 16.