Directory Plus hired Debra Gottrell to distribute phone books for them. Instead of delivering the books, she allegedly placed more than 100,000 directories in three different storage units in Las Cruces, New Mexico. A worker at one of the storage companies discovered the stash after Gottrell failed to pay the storage fee. On July 31, 2008, Gottrell was indicted and charged with fraud.
Quote
"We do a real good job here. Our first concern in designing these books is for the user, not the advertiser, and our second biggest concern is distribution — thorough and ongoing advertisement distribution."—Hugh Riddle, owner of Directory Plus
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
Gottrell was 55 years old at the time of the indictment
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
Charged with fraud by the Dona Ana County grand jury
-
Fact:
Gottrell failed to deliver the phone books over a four-year time period
-
Estimated loss of income to Directory Plus
$500,000
-
Payment to Gottrell
$30,000 over four years
