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.
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