Maker of Michael Vick Dog Chew Toys and Caylee Anthony Dolls Sued For Falsely Claiming Profits Go to Charity

A Florida company that was marketing dog chew toys depicting former NFL quarterback Michael Vick, who was convicted of running a dog-fighting ring, and dolls modeled after a slain girl has been sued for falsely claiming that proceeds from sales of the items would benefit various charities.

Showbiz Promotions LLC, based in Jacksonville, and its owner, Jaime Salcedo, were sued by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum for allegedly misleading consumers by claiming that proceeds from the Vick plastic pet toys would be donated to animal shelters. The company also was accused of selling dolls depicting slain two-year-old Orlando girl, Caylee Anthony, and claiming that sales would be donated to charities for missing and exploited children.

Florida prosecutors say Salcedo’s firm donated only $10 to a fund for missing children and gave no money to animal shelters. The Vick chew toys were sold in two styles: One wearing a football jersey and one in prison garb, officials said. Caylee’s death has attracted intense media attention, with her mother, Casey Anthony, now charged with her murder.

Both items were offered for sale on the Internet, but it is unclear how many, of the items actually were sold, officials said.

“Any company that intentionally misleads innocent consumers to believe they are contributing to worthy charitable causes is absolutely reprehensible,” McCollum said in a news release. “It is disgusting that a company would exploit a tragic situation for personal gain.”

Florida officials began investigating Salcedo’s company after hundreds of consumers complained to state authorities about the Vick chew toys. The items were not authorized by the former Atlanta Falcons star, the company admitted.

Sales of the Caylee dolls were called off in January after the company was flooded with consumer complaints about them, officials said.

Florida’s lawsuit against Salcedo and Showbiz Promotions LLC seeks to permanently ban sales of the doll and chew toys plus a fine of 10,000 for each violation of the state’s law against deceptive and unfair trade.

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