HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) –
A judge issues an arrest warrant Tuesday for
the owner of Cypress Creek Organic Farms.
24 hours after several affiliate farmers
filed a class-action lawsuit against James Lawhorne, a Tennessee judge issued
an arrest warrant for him after he failed to appear in court for an unrelated
fraud charge in that state.
WAFF began investigating Cypress Creek
Organic farms five months ago as the Better Business Bureau issued an alert on
the business. Promotional ads claimed growers could earn up to $40,000, but the
BBB said Lawhorne could not prove those claims.
The civil lawsuit states the business fell
apart, leaving those who invested thousands at a loss.
In September, Lawhorne said he was filing
Chapter 11 bankruptcy for Cypress Creek Organic Farms, which has yet to happen.
We have not been able to reach Lawhorne or his attorney.
Meanwhile, Lawhorne had a hearing for a
separate fraud case in Tennessee dating back to 2006. He did not show for the
Rutherford County update hearing. According to court documents, he has been
ordered to pay restitution after being indicted on three counts of fraud. He
has not been convicted but has paid partial restitution.
Mark Pflanzer said he invested more than
$100,000 with Lawhorne in a communications company. He said the entire business
was built on lies, and before he knew it, Lawhorne took all his money. Pflanzer
fought for years to get it in court and Lawhorne has only paid a fraction of
what he’s owed.
“The thing that really upsets me is that I
honestly believe that some of the money that I’ve been paid in restitution came
from these other people,” Pflanzer said.
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