[onlychild]

IMO many acts are forgivable but others are not. As a Disabled Vet and former firefighter...let me help. Of course, you are free to make your own choice. Some excerpts from the FTC website.


The defendants and their more than 70 fundraising subcontractors allegedly engaged in deceptive telephone solicitations for nonprofit organizations purporting to support police, fire fighters, veterans, and sick children. According to the FTC, the defendants raised more than $24 million between 1995 and early 1999, but contrary to their representations, they provided only a small amount to the nonprofits.

In November 1998, the FTC filed a complaint against the above-named defendants, J.P. Cohen (a defendant not part of the settlement package), and the corporate entities through which they did business, U.S. Marketing and North American Charitable Services, Inc. The FTC alleged that in telephone scripts, "thank you" letters, and brochures sent to donors, the defendants and their subcontractors misrepresented that consumers' donations would benefit local purposes - such as holiday parties for sick children in local hospitals - and misrepresented that consumers' donations would support particular programs - such as buying wheelchairs for veterans. According to the FTC, most donations did not support a charitable purpose but instead funded the nationwide telemarketing operation and lined the defendants' pockets. In some instances, the defendants never paid the nonprofits, but simply kept all the money raised in their names.

Following a criminal referral by the FTC in September 2001, a federal grand jury indicted defendants Mitchell Gold and J.P. Cohen for wire fraud and mail fraud in connection with their fundraising business. (Gold also was indicted for money laundering.) They pled guilty and are now in prison. Gold was sentenced to 96 months in prison, and Cohen was sentenced to 37 months.

Kevin