Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Charitable Law Section investigates charitable fraud and pursues enforcement action to help recover misused charitable funds, stop fraudulent activity, and protect donors and charities. Continue reading “Ohio: Enforcement Actions Protect Donors and Charities”
Michigan: Deceptive Charity to Cease Operations after Misleading Donors
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced a settlement over claims against a charity known as Firefighters Support Services (FFS) of Wyandotte, Michigan. The group used deceptive phone calls to fundraise claiming that funds went to help firefighters and victims of fire but more than 90% went elsewhere. As part of the settlement FFS will dissolve their operations within 60 days. Continue reading “Michigan: Deceptive Charity to Cease Operations after Misleading Donors”
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Arrests Tampa Man on Charges of Grand Theft, Telemarketing Violations
Arrest Also Made on Illegal Charity Activity, One Still Wanted
Officers with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services arrested Dean Sherwood of Tampa on Wednesday and charged him with 40 counts, including grand theft, unlicensed activity and organized scheme to defraud consumers.
“Thanks to the thorough investigation and swift action taken by our officers, there’s one less scammer stealing thousands of dollars from Floridians,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
The Shifting Boundaries of Nonprofit Regulation and Enforcement: A Conversation with Cindy M. Lott
Editors’ note: In this interview, Cindy M. Lott, who has worked with the state charities regulation and enforcement community for many years and who is now also working with the federal regulators, discusses the overall regulatory landscape of nonprofits. Lott sees a shift occurring at both the state and federal levels, with a new balance in the process of being struck—particularly in light of changing priorities and subsequent resource allocation at both levels of government. She views this shift as a harbinger of further change in the nonprofit sector. Continue reading “The Shifting Boundaries of Nonprofit Regulation and Enforcement: A Conversation with Cindy M. Lott”
Pennsylvania: Bucks County woman who allegedly lied about having terminal cancer reaches settlement with Attorney General’s office
Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane’s office today announced a civil settlement with a Bucks County woman who was the intended beneficiary of more than $36,000 in charitable giving after she falsely claimed she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of terminal cancer. Continue reading “Pennsylvania: Bucks County woman who allegedly lied about having terminal cancer reaches settlement with Attorney General’s office”