CHECK YOUR CHARITY CAREFULLY before donating!!

U.S. Navy Veterans Association  - NATIONWIDE

 ARREST WARRANT                                                                                             WANTED POSTER
12/2010
Joshua J. Cumberland born in Columbus OH - claims to be a former Marine.  Calls himself "Gunny" says he was an E-7 in the Marine Corps.  In the last two months has opened a "Non profit" organization called Veterans Haven located in Melbourne Fl. Claims to help Veterans find jobs and homes.  Joshua was homeless two months ago....

ACTUAL RECORD
08/2011   Fake fundraiser in 'unforgivable' Heroes fraud
Herald Scotland
However, Help for Heroes said that while he registered with the charity on August 12 last year, he had failed to donate any money between then and when he ...
 

'War hero' jailed for fake charity claim
stv.tv
A man who claimed to be a veteran walking around the British coast raising money for Help for Heroes has been jailed. Matthew Brown, 35, registered with the ...

 

Matthew Brown

News Releases

Donors Asked to Contact Attorney General's Office

12/9/2010
(LIMA, Ohio) — The Ohio Attorney General's Charitable Law section is seeking input from members of the public who have donated to a well-known Lima veterans' charity.

Last week, as a result of a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Richard Cordray, Michael Muhammad was ordered to stop soliciting contributions for his nonprofit organizations, Help Homeless Veterans Inc and Veterans Hope Community House Inc. The Attorney General's Office also sought and obtained a court order to shut down Muhammad's "veterans' shelter" at 616 W. Elm St., Lima.

"As we prepare to litigate this case, we're interested in hearing from anyone who donated money to Mr. Muhammad or his veterans' shelter," said Attorney General Richard Cordray. "We hope to identify money he has received in order to ensure those funds actually go to veterans' causes."

Donors are asked to contact the Attorney General's Office by sending an e-mail to CharitableLaw@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or by calling, toll-free, (855) 205-0035.

For several years, Muhammad regularly set up his donation table outside the Lima post office. He misled and confused the public by using various names of fictitious organizations including Disabled Veterans, American Disabled Veterans Home, Help House Veterans, United We Stand Veterans and Veterans Helping People.

In its lawsuit, the Attorney General's Office alleges that Muhammad used donated funds to pay personal bills and expenses, that the "veterans' shelter" operated as a for-profit rental property and that the living conditions in the shelter were deplorable and unsafe.

The news release announcing the filing of the lawsuit can be found at: www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/LimaVetsHomeNewsRelease.

To read the complaint, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/LimaVetsHomeComplaint.

Photos of the residence can be found at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/LimaVetsHomePhotos.

Media Contacts:

Ted Hart: (614) 728-4127
cell: (614) 743-2286
Holly Hollingsworth: (614) 644-0508
cell: (614) 353-7576
http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/shame/veterans-support-organization-20110203

Veterans Support Organization

Updated: Thursday, 03 Feb 2011, 9:44 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 03 Feb 2011, 9:44 PM EST

MYFOXNY.COM - You may have seen people dressed in camouflage fatigues outside your local mall or grocery store. They are part of a group called VSO -- Veterans Support Organization -- collects money for veterans.

But where is the money actually going? Arnold Diaz investigated......

 

================================================

NC5 Investigates: Consumer Alert - Tennessee

State Cracks Down on Veterans Fundraiser Group

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=12873132

Posted: Jul 26, 2010 6:41 PM CDT
 
By Jennifer Kraus
Consumer Investigator

NewsChannel 5 Investigates first exposed the practices of a group claiming to raise money for veterans. Now, that group has been ordered to stop collecting donations in Tennessee and has been hit with a hefty fine by the state.

It's the latest fallout from our undercover investigation.

Back in February, NewsChannel 5 Investigates first exposed how the Veterans Support Organization was collecting money in Middle Tennessee. And, we found that what our undercover crews were told by the men dressed in fatigues wasn't always true......

E-mail: jkraus@newschannel5.com

 

UPDATE
 RECEIVED 12/12/2010
RELAYING INFORMATION:

All,

I would like to give everyone a heads up to a fraudulent Veterans organization that is doing fund raising in Knoxville.  This needs to stop!  The group is called Veterans Support Organization (VSO).  They are based out of Florida.  They have set up shop at Knoxville Center Mall (East Towne) and also West Town Mall.  They are located on the 2nd floor at Knoxville Center Mall by the food court and escalator.  They are near the food court at West Town Mall.  They dress their people up in camouflage fatigues whether they are Veterans or not so that the public will think they are Veterans.  That in itself is WRONG!  They ask for donations like many groups do but it is what they do with the funds that is the fraudulent part of what they do.  What they do and what they claim to do with the donations are two entirely different things!  Here is a breakdown of what they do with the donations:  About 10% goes to Veterans causes, 30% goes to the person collecting the donations, 20% goes to the crew leader and 40% goes to their headquarters in Florida.  When I approached one of their guys at West Town Mall and asked him how the donations are used he said, "All the donations go to Veterans."  I asked him how do you get paid?  He told me that he gets paid on a draw or commission.  I said so you just told me ALL the money goes to Veterans?  He got very nervous!  Now you tell me you get a cut out of the money.  Then I provided him with a document that pertains to this organization being fined $50,000 by the State of Tennessee for fraudulent business practices.  They have violated 10 (TEN) laws pertaining to donations and solicitations in Tennessee and have been fined $5,000 per violation by the State.  I have enclosed a link that will take you to the article.  You can also go to TN.Gov and then search for Donations & Solicitations.  You will find this article there.  That is where I got it.  Here is the link:

 http://tnsos.org/Press/story.php?item=211

 Copy and paste it in your search engine.  You can also google the name "Veteran Support Organization" and you will find out a whole lot of information.  There has been a great undercover article that was done by Chanel 5 in Nashville.  It is very interesting.

I have already visited the business office at both malls in person and provided them with documentation pertaining to their fraudulent fund raising practices and the information about the State of Tennessee fining this organization.  The malls (Both owned by Simon / Hall) stated that they are going to notify their corporate offices pertaining to this matter.  The General Manager's name is Mr. Tim Hall.

If you happen to be at either of the malls please stop by the VSO booth and ask them a lot of questions pertaining to their fund raising practices, the fines that were lodged against them, what they do with the funds that are raised, etc.  You may find them at other stores in the area as well.  You will find out VERY quickly that they are smooth talkers and good sales people and that is all.  The more they are exposed the better!  We don't need them in our community taking money from our hard working citizens on false pretenses!

Attorney general investigating Fallen Heroes Foundation

by BYRON HARRIS
WFAA

Posted on July 29, 2010 at 10:23 PM
Updated Thursday, Jul 29 at 10:34 PM
Related:
Gallery
See all 3 photos »

NEWS 8 INVESTIGATES

KENNEDALE ­ Just two days after a News 8 investigation was broadcast, the organizer of the United States Fallen Heroes Foundation has resigned.

The foundation has no idea how much money may be missing, but it still hopes to build a monument in Kennedale to servicemen and women who have died in combat since 9/11.

Walter Coleman said the United States Fallen Heroes Foundation was a non-profit agency ­ but it wasn't......



E-mail bharris@wfaa.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Fw: The United States Fallen Heroes Foundation

 
From LtGen, USAF (retired) Brett Dula

 
Subject: The United States Fallen Heroes Foundation

 
I just wanted to let you know about something that I've been working on for a few months that is finally coming out. This group, The United States Fallen Hero Foundation, is a complete fraud. They've been using the families
of our fallen brothers and sisters to raise money for a phony Memorial that was to be built in Texas. The PR firm they hired approached me to set up a meeting with me and Jan to get our advice on building a National Memorial, b ut things seemed fishy from the start. The PR firm later became suspicious of the founders activities and came back to me again for advice on how to proceed. We notified the Texas Attorney General and the FBI, but did not want to go public until we were sure. They have contacted thousands of families who have gotten very excited about this project and we didn't want to risk hurting them until we were positive this guy was a dirt bag. Well, the Attorney General's subpoena tipped of a Dallas TV reporter and he asked to have an exclusive. His story aired last night. I'm not sure if you guys want to do anything to actively warn people, but I just wanted to let you know about it. His website is still up and he's still raising money. He's claimed to have raised over $2 million.
 
Here is the Story. Just let me know if you want any more detail.
 
Watch the video. The dirt bag should go to jail.
 
Subject: Re: Your donations are making a difference - here's proof
From: Larry Bailey <larrywb@suddenlink.net>
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:47:05 -0400
To: "Mike Lynch" <reply-fe6a15777466067d7316-3550266_HTML-3618337-147970-0@email.craftkit.org>

 
Mike, you know that HHV is one sorry piece of work as an organization, and I'm putting out the word to everybody I know!  I used to contribute to HHV, but then I learned that your salaries eat up too much of what people donate.  How can you justify your nearly $300,000 in salary?  And Chapin's $282,000?  I wish my charity had that kind of money; we'd DISTRIBUTE it, not eat it up in salaries!
 
Take Gathering of Eagles; they don't have a NICKEL of expenses, and they have a program distributing THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS of computers to hospitalized vets and TONS OF COFFEE to serving troops overseas.
 
You should be ashamed to even ask for donations.
 
To "my guys:" don't send a penny to HHV; it's a get-well operation for a guy named Roger Chapin and another named Mike Lynch.  Interested?  Check out this webpage:
 
 
"My guys" again: please pass this to everyone you can.  It's one of the organizations that makes everybody suspicious of every other organization!!!

 
PLEASE PASS THIS AROUND, GUYS AND GALS!

 
Larry Bailey
 
On Aug 13, 2010, at 9:49 AM, Mike Lynch wrote:
 
 

Dear friend of our hospitalized GIs and veterans,

One of the best parts of my job is receiving thank you letters, stories and photos from hospitalized GIs and veterans HHV has been able to help - because of generous supporters like you.

The letters and stories I receive range from recent GIs wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan to older veterans who are still dealing with injuries suffered in Vietnam or even World War II.

And since your donation has made possible the important work we do here at HHV, I thought I'd pass along a few heartwarming letters and stories.

 

[pics clipped]

 

As you can see, your donation really can make a difference in the lives of our hospitalized GIs and veterans. 

Please forward this email to a like-minded patriotic friend so they can read first-hand what HHV is doing to help.

Thank you for all you've done,




Mike Lynch
 President and proud veteran, HHV
 

P.S.  Keep in mind, it's generous donors like you who allow HHV to help veterans like Ashley, Gary, Philip and Bill.  Your financial gifts are helping better the lives of our hospitalized GIs and veterans.

Please consider making another generous, tax deductible donation  to help more hospitalized heroes.
 

CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS:    When considering donating to

http://www.armor4troops.org

or

www.supportourveterans.org

please read this first
Bobby Benjamin Jones and his wife Pat have started a group called  American Veterans Heroes.  Located in North Carolina, no charity or 501 3c registration can be located.

Booby Jones is telling everyone that he was field promoted to LT while in Vietnam.  He tells others he was a Captain in the Marines. Lately, he is a retired Lt Colonel.   

No idea what the donations are used for.....
If you receive a request for a donation from this man/family - please contact us immediately.

MSgt. Dexter (03/2011) - yet another request for various items

Another letter 01.2011 to another team.....this time looks like Germany
 I am currently deployed overseas, but when I return back to the USA shortly my family are coming home for a family reunion and all 43 of us are hoping to be able to see some of your games.....

Nov 2010 - "I am currently deployed overseas......." JD Dexter

JD Dexter (2.25.10), deploying overseas
 
The Dexter Family (11.18.09), deploying to Afghanistan
 
John Dexter (11.20.08), in Afghanistan at time of letter
 
MSgt Dexter (11.7.08), in SE Asia at time of letter

Uses Reno, Las Vegas NV as contact address.  Letter states that his family is preparing for a reunion (always a number between 40 and 50 people) before he deploys for service.... wants freebies!

went to AKO and found three (3) John Dexters...
 
 One is a Air Force Enlisted and the other two are Army LT and CPT..
 
 One is Retired.
 
 Middle names does not match.
 
 I also found about three (3) MSG Dexter, but none match the names.
 
 Now why would someone in Nevada write the University of Miami for merchandise...I bet it is one of those Nigerian Schemes and someone black marketing items.... and most likely, writing other universities as well.

PLEASE READ - MAKE DONATIONS AT YOUR OWN RISK
01/2010

DAWSON, JOHN HENRY III

AKA TIGERBO
AKA DANIEL BLACKWELL

Troy Yocum  12/2009

Drum Hike

Mitch Gold "the telemarketer"

strike force freedom cry

Veterans of the Vietnam War/Veterans Coalition

 Army Ranger Mojo, Inc. (http://armyranger.com)

STEVE BECK

I met a person who claims to be a retired Sgt Maj, Purple Heart, Beirut bombing vet, etc who's been asking junior Marines for money (and taking it) in the Norfolk Tidewater area.
 
I contacted HQMC for affirmation, but they said the name that was given did not exist in the retirement branch for any E-8 or E-9 rank.

This guy pressured and conned a Marine for money and  I believe that he is continuing this behavior stealing from service members.
 
 
                 Suspect Description:
                 Date - 2008,04,19 / 1500 (apx)
                 Location - J Clyde Morris BLVD, Newport News, VA (1mile East of I-64) WaWa station.
 
                 Person - white male,
                 Hair - reddish / blonde bald 6'3 250 lbs (apx)
                 Eyes - bluish / green (claimed Marines issued him brown contacts)
                 Red / yellow USMC Devil Dog T-shirt, USMC ball cap (worn backwards / Oakley sun glasses), tan cargo shorts
                 Age - 50 years - 55.
                 Behavior - flamboyantly confident, often cusses, bragged about Marine experiences (attracted attention like a neon strobe) acting as a ridiculously boisterous Marine in a Navy area. (Suspect he'd do the Navy bit around an Army base, etc)
 
                 Limped on right side.
                 Smoked cigarettes (a lot)
 
                 Veh - Late model Jeep Wrangler, Green body/ tan hard top (damaged right door top)
                 License plate - TX 758TVN
                 Cell Phone (330) -
                 Retired United States Marine Corps strip on rear window at top.
                 Rank sticker on right side of wind shield (should have been on the left for inspection)
                 No base decals
 
                 Claimed:
                 Name - Steven Beck.
                 Sergeant Major (ret) in 2001.
                  Intelligence background.
                 Worked at the Pentagon.
                 Served in Beirut Lebanon with BLT1/8.
                 Buried under compound during 1983 bombing and received the Purple Heart award.
                 Medivac'd to Germany.
                 Works at NASCAR; makes $200,000 annually.
                 Owns a motor home that he tows his jeep with.
                 Jeep was broken into and wallet, ID card, etc were stolen.
                 Claimed wife was deceased 10 years past (apx).
 
                 Indicators:
                 Pressured junior Marines for money.
                 Brand new stickers (all).
                 No base decals.
                 Made fun of a 1stSgt's hair cut (ROGER THAT!)
                 DISPLAYED Digital (MARPAT) utilities despite claiming to retire in 2001 (long before digitals were issued).
                 Boot camp shirt; no seasoned Marine wears anything like that.
                 No detailed knowledge about BLT 1/8; when asked he only replied with vagueness or generalities.
                 When given names he claimed to know made up persons in addition to real persons whom he'd would have never have met.
                 Got hostile when pressed for personal information.

Ex-Marine given 6 years in prison for altering checks collected for bogus veterans' fund-raiser

May 28, 2009

BY DAN ROZEK Staff Reporter

.....The "despicable" door-to-door fund-raising scam run last month by 44-year-old Donald McCarver again took advantage of people who thought they were donating money to help veterans and military families, DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said.

"This is the second time that Mr. McCarver has been found guilty of taking money intended for United States veterans and their families for his own personal use," Birkett said. "It is despicable, and it's unpatriotic.".......

======================================

Ex-Marine gets probation for running charity scam  12/31/06

By Art Barnum
Tribune staff reporter

A Villa Park Marine Corps veteran was sentenced Friday to 4 years of probation and ordered to undergo inpatient drug treatment for running a scam that collected more than $4,000 for a non-existent charity to aid military families.

Donald McCarver, 41, pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to gamble, forgery, possession of a controlled substance and obstruction of justice......
12/19/2006
Good evening everyone.
 
This afternoon I received a telephone call from a solicitor seeking donations to an organization known as "Illinois Vietnam Veterans." After talking with their solicitor, yes I did keep it polite, I contacted their main office.
 
I got even more of a run around and elusive answers to my direct questions. "What does the organization get as far as a percentage?" and "Who is the parent organization?"
 
After some discussion I decided to contact the Illinois Attorney Generals office to find out more about this "Illinois Vietnam Veterans" organization.
Fact 1: There is no organization in the State of Illinois anymore. There was but they "lost" their not-for-profit status in 1994.
Fact 2: The organization is being investigated due to the amount of complaints the AG office received.
Fact 3: The group is located in Fredonia Wisconsin and does not have a telephone number to contact them through.
Fact 4: The AG office suggested that a letter of complaint be sent to the Chicago office so it can be included with their investigation.
Fact 5: The fund raiser's name is Xentel. If anyone has any info on this group please let me know.
Fact 6: I was informed by the solicitor that the "Illinois Vietnam Veterans" group does fund raising in every state.
 
If anyone has any information or is contacted by Xentel for a donation, get as much info as possible and send it to me and I will forward it on.

This might just be the same people who was using the McHenry County Chapter of VietNow's name to solicite funds.
 
Thanks for your time,
 
 Joe Lewis

 
 
Xentel has beened fined in Miss. and is also being sued in Iowa.

http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/latest_news/releases/nov_2003/Xentel.html

 

01/04/2007

For any of our friends who have received a call about making a donation to the "Illinois Vietnam Veterans" please check out the site at the end of the message.

This was sent to me about the phone number 309-807-4300 Il. Vietnam Veterans
Telemarketing scam and want to be Vietnow/ FOP /?/?

The URL below has some background on the phone number: 309-807-4300. The number seems to be unlisted, but this site has some interesting history about the number. If you can not access the site, I can copy the info and send it to you.

Thanks for the FYI, we need to keep us and our veterans from being defamed.

http://whocalled.us/lookup/3098074300
Joe

01/07/2007
...my nephew received a call from them today. He was told the were out of Colorado . But his caller ID said they were  309-807-4300. I looked in the phone book, and it is from mid IL. To the western line....

"Let Freedom Ring"   
July 22, 2004 

We just received this message through channels.  It originated at Walter Reed AMC.  I'm forwarding it for your information and for you to pass along as you deem appropriate.

I was just contacted by staff at Ft Campbell in regards to an organization named "Let Freedom Ring" .  This organization promises $ 6,000 grants to war injured soldiers - THIS IS NOT THE CASE.  This is a rip-off in order to get financial information from the soldiers.  Ft Campbell has elevated this information to DA level for dissemination.

ARK Foundation
 (formerly At RISK KIDS Foundation; formerly Bob Wiggins Evangelistic Association, Inc.)
Claim 501c3 
aka National Veterans Hospice
aka Veterans Presidential Inaugural Ball Society
Branson, MO
Indianola, MS
Perry, FL
West Memphis, AR
Alexandria, VA
Board members listed on their website
www.thearkfoundation.com
1. Washington, DC Ball c/o Michael Serabian, ARK Board VP Finance 
 2. Branson, MO Ball c/o Bill Groninger, Board Member, Site Coordinator in Branson Veterans Presidential Inaugural Ball 
c/o Bill Groninger, AVTF / ARK 120 Oxford Court #14, Branson, MO 65616, Ph: 417-332-2883  or vetinauguralball@aol.com                      
3. John Gorman, Board President   jmgark2016@aol.com ,    or
                                                     4. Frank Opitz or our Executive Director/ Chief of Staff/ Treasurer @ DallasFrankOpitz@aol.com 

Many debts left unpaid from Jan 20, 2005 events.
Serabian was reportedly "voted off the board of the ARK foundation because I objected to the CEO's irregular business practices of lies, fraud, and continuous slanderous comments towards me..."