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California Attorney General Becerra Recovers Nearly $8.8 Million Against Corrupt Operators of Sham Charity for Wounded Veterans

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

SAN DIEGO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced today a jury verdict in favor of the State against individuals who fraudulently solicited charitable donations under the pretext of assisting wounded veterans and their families and instead illegally enriched themselves with the donated funds. In April 2017, Attorney General Becerra filed a lawsuit alleging that the operators committed fraud against California donors.  Following trial, the jury awarded nearly $8.8 million to the state against defendants Matthew G. Gregory and spouse Danella J. Gregory, their adult children Matthew J. Gregory and Gina D. Gregory, and their business Gregory Motorsports.  Continue reading “California Attorney General Becerra Recovers Nearly $8.8 Million Against Corrupt Operators of Sham Charity for Wounded Veterans”

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Minnesota – Attorney General Lori Swanson Sues Charity That Claims To Help Families Of Fallen Police Officers

Lawsuit Cites Company As Repeat Violator Of Minnesota Charity Laws

Attorney General Lori Swanson today filed a lawsuit against American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens, Inc. (“AFPCC”) of Florida for deceptively representing that donations would primarily be used to help families of officers killed in the line of duty, when only a small percentage of funds went to such purposes.

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MICHIGAN – Schuette: Food for the Poor Agrees to Pay $300,000 to Settle Allegations of Deceptive Charitable Solicitations

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced his Charitable Trust Section has reached a settlement with Food for the Poor, a large Florida-based charity that solicits nationwide, to settle allegations of deceptive charitable solicitations.

Last December, Schuette alleged that Food for the Poor’s mailings overstated its efficiency when it told donors that “more than 95% of all donations go directly to programs that help the poor.” While denying that its solicitations were deceptive, Food for the Poor has agreed to cease this and other allegedly deceptive language as well as pay $300,000. Of the settlement amount, $175,000 will go to the Food Bank Council of Michigan and $75,000 to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen; both charities distribute food to hungry Michigan families. The remaining $50,000 of the settlement will reimburse the State of Michigan for investigative costs.

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MARYLAND – Sham Law Enforcement Fundraiser Ordered to Stop Soliciting Donations

Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith announce a Cease and Desist Order has been issued today against Stephen D. Everhart, Lion Fundraising, Police Journal and Fire Yearbook, and Lion Fraternal Order of Police Assistance Fund LLC. The order follows an investigation that revealed over $1 million in donations were solicited and received by Mr. Everhart since 2012 in violation of the Maryland Solicitations Act. Mr. Everhart posed as fake law enforcement charities to collect donations, and failed to register with the Secretary of State as either a charity or fundraiser before soliciting and collecting donations using a cash on delivery service.

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