Oregon Department of Justice

Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers and the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Division of Finance and Corporate Securities (DFCS) today announced the indictment of Ricky Lynn Johnson and NuStart Concepts, Inc. Both Johnson, the president of NuStart Concepts, Inc., and the company were charged with 102 felony counts, including aggravated theft in the first degree, theft in the first degree, securities fraud, selling an unregistered security and other state criminal law violations.

The indictment, which was issued by Clackamas County Grand Jury on May 11, 2005, alleges at least 49 victims lost $292,500 due to Johnson's unlawful activities.

On May 12, Ricky Lynn Johnson appeared before the Clackamas County Circuit Court, both in an individual capacity and on behalf of NuStart Concepts, Inc.  Johnson was arraigned on the indictments charging him and NuStart Concepts, Inc.  Johnson was taken into custody and held on $1 million bail.

NuStart Concepts, Inc., which also does business as ReStart and KidStart, is located in Lake Oswego. The company markets nutritional snack bars.

DFCS initiated the investigation in August 2001. Department of Justice officials joined the investigation in June 2003. The case is scheduled for trial on July 7, 2005.