Source:
Roanoke TimesBy Michael Sluss
981-3373
Updated Feb. 22: House votes to repeal vets group exemption, sending bill to McDonnell
RICHMOND -- A fraudulent charity organization that is under investigation in multiple states collected at least $2 million from Virginia residents who thought they were donating funds to help military veterans, according to findings by the state's consumer affairs agency.
The now defunct U.S. Navy Veterans Association raised the money over a five-year period that ended last year, when Virginia and other states launched investigations of the suspect organization, according to information gathered during a probe by the state's Office of Consumer Affairs.
"Based on what we've seen and what we believe, it appears to be a fraudulent group," said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore, who oversees the agency that conducted the investigation.
The case was turned over Monday to the office of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who last year forfeited more than $55,000 in campaign contributions that he received in 2009 from the self-described director of U.S. Navy Vets. The man, who used the name Bobby Thompson, has eluded authorities since last year. Ohio authorities have charged him with identity fraud.
Read more:
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/277865
The story is in the Washington Post this morning, but the
Roanoke Times and the
St. Petersburg Times have been the biggest junkyard dogs on this story.
Virginia suspects fraud by charity purporting to benefit Navy veteransBy Rosalind S. Helderman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
RICHMOND - The Virginia state agency that regulates charities has closed a nine-month investigation into the activities of a Florida-based veterans charity, concluding that the U.S. Navy Veterans Association probably solicited more than $2 million from state residents under false pretenses.
The state's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has turned the case over to Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (R) for possible criminal prosecution.
The group was run by a man who contributed heavily to political candidates across the country, including donations totaling $55,000 to Cuccinelli's 2009 campaign.
....
Pictures distributed by the Ohio attorney general's office depicted Thompson posing with former President George W. Bush, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Giuliani and U.S. Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), now speaker of the House.
....
Thompson was Cuccinelli's second-largest individual donor.
Other Virginia politicians who had received donations gave back the money in a hurry, but not Cuccinelli. It wasn't until much later that he gave back the money.
Edited to change "biggest donor" to "second-largest individual donor."
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