TCI Direct, the list management and brokerage owned by James Thulin, has gone out of business, Direct Newsline has learned.
At least one former client and others in the list industry have confirmed the shuttering.
Calls to TCI’s number were answered by a recording saying the number was out of service.
Michael Artan, Thulin’s lawyer, did not return calls at deadline.
On Thursday, July 20, the employees found out that Friday would be their last day of work, according to one former customer who asked not to be named.
Others in the industry received an e-mail stating;
“To Whom It May Concern:
Regrettably, effective Friday 7/21/06 TCI Direct and Universal Direct will cease operations. This decision is based upon business considerations.
We wish to thank the many friends and supporters of TCI, whom we have had the pleasure of working with for many years.”
In April, Thulin was sentenced to three years in California state prison for assault and burglary in a case that has lasted nearly two years, said Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office (Direct Newsline, April 19).
Thulin began serving his sentence immediately, said Robison. He will have to serve at least 50% of that sentence, Robison noted.
At the time, an employee who declined to identify himself, said the company would stay in business.
In March, Thulin pleaded no contest to one count of assault and one count of burglary in a case that dates back to the summer of 2004 (Direct Newsline, March 8).
According to a felony complaint requesting an arrest warrant, Thulin attempted to murder Andrew Solmessen on July 17, 2004. In addition, Thulin committed “assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury” and “aggravated mayhem” against Solmessen, the July 29 complaint alleged (Direct Newsline, Sept. 28, 2004).
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