Says, ‘Investment Grade Firearms used tricks to deceive Arkansans and scammed them out of large sums of money’
LITTLE ROCK– Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced that a Pulaski County Circuit Court granted the State’s motion for relief against Jayson Cotter of Mountain Home, Arkansas. Cotter conducted business under the name Investment Grade Firearms (IGF). The court found that Cotter defrauded 12 Arkansas consumers and ordered him to pay $28,884 in restitution to consumers and $150,000 in civil penalties. In 2019, Attorney General Rutledge filed suit against Cotter, for violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
“Investment Grade Firearms used tricks to deceive Arkansans and scammed them out of large sums of money,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “I will hold companies, like Investment Grade Firearms, accountable for bad business practices.”
Cotter sold gunsmith services through his website. Consumers would ship their firearms, parts and accessories to him for gunsmith services. Many consumers paid Cotter in full before Cotter completed the requested service with the expectation that they would receive their modified firearms back within reasonable periods of time.
Consumers filed complaints with the Attorney General’s Office claiming that Cotter failed to deliver their completed firearms, refund their payments and refused to respond to their phone calls or emails requesting status updates on prepaid orders.
Victims of these business practices should file a consumer complaint on ArkansasAG.gov or call (800) 482-8982.
