Thomas Gregory Publishing
Thomas Gregory Plat Maps Plat Book Advertising Scam

They sell advertising for county plat books. They tell you they are "working with" the 4H or the Farm Bureau or the county recorder etc... On a new county plat book or county map. They sell ads to local businesses with no time frame as to when the book or map will actually be printed. Their website only shows two plat books that they've actually printed. The companies that printed those two plat books before TGP have both suggested that the maps were flat out copied from them and just reprinted with the new ads in it. Most of the other books that they have sold ads for have never materialized. They have been doing this for years. Arrests and law suits haven't slowed them down.

Here's an article about Mike Kray their sales rep.in jail for fraud currently.

Http://www2. Jcfloridan.com/jcf/news/local/article/salesman_arrested_for_fraud/130094/

Salesman arrested for fraud Michael Kray By DEBORAH BUCKHALTER Floridan Staff Writer Published: February 12

Her dealings with a self-described publishing salesman prompted Jackson County Supervisor of Elections Sylvia Stephens to issue a statement warning local businesses to keep away from him. That wont be a problem, at least for a while the salesman has been arrested and charged by Jackson County and Marianna law enforcement. The Marianna Police Department and Jackson County Sheriffs Office are asking any business that was approached by Michael D. Kray to contact them. Lt. Francis Davis of the Marianna police said the investigation so far indicates that Kray went to multiple businesses in the area. Kray, of La Porte, Ind., was booked into the county jail early Thursday evening. He faces one count of fraud by each of the two law enforcement agencies. Other charges may be pending. Stephens said Kray first showed up at her office about three weeks ago, carrying a big briefcase filled with paperwork. She said the tone of his sales pitch made her uncomfortable; her misgivings grew after she got phone calls about him from local businessmen. On Thursday, hours before Kray was arrested, she sent a message to the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, putting the business community on notice. She said Kray, who works for Thomas Gregory Plat Map Company, is using my name, Sylvia Stephens, and the Optimist Club of Jackson County or Supervisor of Elections office, to sell ads for a Jackson County plat book. The Optimist Club, elections office or myself have not contracted with that company to print plat books for Jackson County. Stephens urged local businesses not to buy ads in the plat book, and then went further. If you have already been contacted (by Kray) and bought an ad, please call the Marianna Police Department or sheriffs office ASAP, she wrote. I have already pursued an investigation through the Marianna Police Department.in a press release about Krays arrest, Marianna police said he went door to door, soliciting sales of the advertisement space telling those business owners that he had secured the sponsorship of the Supervisor of Elections and the Optimist Club. Two sales made by Kray have been identified so far, and in both cases witnesses say Kay claimed to have ties with Stephens. The investigation is continuing by Marianna police and the sheriffs office. Stephens said she first spoke with Kray after he contacted her, offering to publish a plat map book of Jackson County. He also offered to work with the Optimist Club of Jackson County on a distribution deal that would give the club a share of the profits on the book. Stephens is a member of the Optimist Club of Jackson County, and chairman of that organizations fundraising drive to sell plat map books. The clubs maps have been published by one company, Florida Plats, for the past several editions. She said, however, that the club only the maps every four to five years, and is not currently preparing one. Her role as elections supervisor is not associated with the club fundraiser. She said she took Krays name and contact information when he came to speak with her, but told him more than once not to sell ads by using her name, or the name of the club. Last Friday, she got a call from a local businessman who said Kray had come to him, wanting to sell an ad for the plat book. Kray allegedly used her name, and indicated to the business owner that a deal might be pending for his company to do the book, Stephens said. She said she got in touch with Kray and warned him not to make such claims. She said she later got a call from another local business man, this one saying Kray indicated in strong terms that the club and Stephens were involved. Stephens said the local business owner indicated hed bought an ad based on the strength of that connection. She advised him to stop payment on the check. The Floridan called the Thomas Gregory Plat Map Company Thursday and spoke to someone who identified himself as Jim Campbell, sales manager. Campbell confirmed that Kray works for the company, and that a plat book is indeed in the works here. But Campbell also said no deal has been struck with the Optimist Club of Jackson County. Campbell said he spoke with Kray about the matter, and that Kray doesnt think he said anything untrue to anyone in trying to sell ads. Campbell added that Kray would not be using Stephens name or the name of the club, in talking with others about ads in the book, or in trying to get partners for similar books in other communities. Campbell said the company may be close to finding a distribution partner in Jackson County, and that the map will be published whether or not one is found. Anyone who bought an ad will get what they pay for, Campbell said. Im amazed that people throw around terms like fraudulent so easily. We dont do business like that. Campbell said Kray acknowledged that he might have mentioned his attempts to talk with the Optimist Club about a deal. Campbell also said Kray denies any inappropriate use of Stephens name, or the clubs. The conversation with Campbell took place before Krays arrest. Subsequent calls Thursday to the numbers listed on Thomas Gregory Plat Map Companys Web site went unanswered. Police are asking business owners who were contacted by Kray to call them. The Marianna Police Department can be reached at 526-3125; the Jackson County Sheriffs Office at 482-9624. Businesses in municipalities with police departments should call those agencies. The Sneads Police Department number is 593-6403; Cottondale Police Department can be reached at 352-4361; and the Graceville Police Department number is 263-3944.

Company: Thomas Gregory Publishing
Country: USA
State: Indiana
City: Laporte
Address: 400 closser ave

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