Latest News – Page 38 – National Association of State Charity Officials

May 3, 2019May 3, 2019

PENNSYLVANIA – Director Of Perry County Family Center Charged With Embezzlement

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Shelly A. Dreyer-Aurila, age 53, of New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, was indicted on April 17, 2019, by a federal grand jury for embezzlement of funds involving federal programs.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that between 2010 and 2017, Dreyer-Aurila, Executive Director of the Perry County Family Center, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, knowingly embezzled and converted to her own personal use more than $220,000 under the care and control of the Center. The Center annually receives more than $10,000 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services to fund programs such as its Maternal, Infant & Early Childhood Home Visiting program and its Child Abuse Prevention program.

May 3, 2019May 3, 2019

MARYLAND – Settlement Announced In Case Against Maryland Police Charity Founded by Retired Baltimore City Police Officer

BALTIMORE, MD (May 2, 2019) – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith today announced a settlement with CopStress, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and its founder, Richard A. Willard, a retired Baltimore City Police Officer. Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Ronald A. Silkworth approved the consent order requiring CopStress, Inc. and Willard to cease all charitable soliciting and to turn over remaining donations to an organization whose mission matches charitable solicitations at issue in the case.

According to the complaint, beginning on July 2017 and continuing through 2018, Willard and the charity misled the public by claiming to operate programs for police officers such as police academy training, rapid response teams, and licensed counseling for police suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. The complaint further alleges Willard posed as an active duty officer to solicit donations and misled the public about affiliation or sponsorship of a CopStress, Inc. fundraising event by the Baltimore City Police Department.

April 17, 2019April 18, 2019

Maryland – Settlement Announced in Cash on Delivery Charity Scam

Man Permanently Banned By Maryland Officials From Charitable Soliciting After Using Fake Law Enforcement Charities to Solicit Donations

April 17, 2019 – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith today announced a settlement agreement in a case against Stephen D. Everhart, Lion Fundraising, Police Journal and Fire Yearbook, and Lion Fraternal Order of Police Assistance Fund LLC.

An investigation into Everhart and Lions Fundraising revealed that the scam dated back several years, and that Everhart used the donations instead to pay himself, and not to benefit any real law enforcement or fire organization. Everhart used the following fake names to solicit for donations: McKimmie-Catterton Maryland Police Post 2979, Anne Arundel Police Post 2979, Firefighters Association, Maryland Fire Post, Coalition of Police, Anne Arundel Police Stronger Than Drugs, D.C. Police Assistance Funding, D.C. Police Association Blue Santa Drive, FOP Fundraising, Lion Charitable Fundraising, Lion Charitable Funding, Lion Fraternal Order of Police, Lion Police Fire Veterans Fundraising, Lion United Funds, Maryland Law Enforcement Fund, Police Fire Post, Police Fire Veterans Assistance Fund 2979, Police Fire Veterans Assistance Fund, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2979.

“Mr. Everhart’s actions hurt real charities,” said Attorney General Frosh. “He preyed upon the public’s goodwill and desire to support law enforcement and first responders so that he could line his own pockets.”

As a result of the investigation, on September 28, 2018, the Secretary of State issued a cease and desist order citing multiple violations of the Maryland Solicitations Act including Everhart’s failure to register as a charitable organization or as a paid fundraiser, as required by the law.

“Our office is committed to protecting Maryland from those who use deceit to divert charitable donations,” said Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith. “We encourage citizens to report any suspicious charities or fundraisers to our office and research the registration and financial information of a charity.

The settlement announced today includes a permanent, lifetime ban against Everhart from operating or founding any charitable organization, from fundraising for any charitable organization, and a permanent ban from working for any charitable organization for which he would be responsible for soliciting, collecting, or handling charitable contributions.

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March 28, 2019May 14, 2019

FTC, MISSOURI & FLORIDA Continue Fight against Sham Charities; Shut Down Operations That Falsely Claimed to Help Disabled Police Officers and Veterans

March 28, 2019

The operators of two purported sham charities have agreed to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorneys General of Missouri and Florida that they deceived donors with false claims that their organizations helped disabled police officers and military veterans. The operators of both schemes are permanently banned from charitable solicitations or otherwise working for charities.

February 7, 2019February 7, 2019

PENNSYLVANIA – Attorney General Josh Shapiro Announces Legal Action Against UPMC for Violating Pennsylvania’s Charities Laws

Attorney General Josh Shapiro Announces Legal Action Against UPMC for Violating Pennsylvania’s Charities Laws – PA Office of Attorney General

Petition to modify Consent Decrees aims to restore fairness and promote the public interest in western Pennsylvania’s healthcare system

PITTSBURGH — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today filed a petition in Commonwealth Court to modify the consent decrees governing the relationship between UPMC and Highmark, two of the largest health care providers and insurers in the western Pennsylvania market. The petition requests that the Court impose modifications to protect and promote the public interest by ensuring that UPMC abides by its charitable obligations to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.