In a decisive legal victory, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, alongside attorneys general from seven other states, has successfully secured a judgment forcing a notorious robocall operator out of the telecommunications business. The perpetrator, John Spiller, previously found guilty of running robocall scams, was hit with a ruling that not only bans him from the telecom industry but also saddles him with over $600,000 in costs and attorney's fees. This judgment comes in response to Spiller's continued illegal activities, despite a 2023 court order that intended to put a stop to his operations, according to the Department of Attorney General.
Spiller, who used to run several voice service providers, has a history of making billions of robocalls, including calls to individuals listed on the Do Not Call Registry. In a statement obtained by the Department of Attorney General website, Attorney General Nessel said, "Mr. Spiller owned and operated companies behind billions of intrusive and deceptive robocalls," and she expressed her commitment to use "every tool at my disposal to hold bad actors accountable and protect consumers from illegal robocalls." Despite a permanent injunction to not ever make robocalls or engage in telemarketing, Spiller continued his ploys under aliases and through newly established telecom companies.
The states involved in bringing the case to a close were Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, and Texas, who joined Michigan in the litigation. The collective efforts of these states played a crucial role in both shutting down Spiller's operations and securing the compensatory fines he is now obliged to pay.
With this latest court order, Spiller is now forbidden from starting any new telecommunications ventures and from working with certain individuals who previously abetted him in these fraudulent activities. He is also banned from using deceptive aliases in government filings. Spiller's companies—including Rising Eagle Capital Group LLC, Rising Eagle Capital Group–Cayman, and JSquared Telecom LLC—are well-known names tied to the robocall scam that targeted countless consumers, as per the Department of Attorney General.
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