Update on Navy veteran charity scam

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Bob Dole had an op-ed inthe Washington Post, which reminded me they we hadn't heard anything about this scam in a while.

Veterans’ charities need scrutiny
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-05-26/opinions/39544957_1_american-veterans-relief-foundation-charity-navigator-fundraising

By Bob Dole,May 26, 2013

Bob Dole is a former Senate majority leader and was the Republican nominee for president in 1996. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star for his Army service in World War II.
....

Earlier this month a trial date was set for the purported mastermind behind the U.S. Navy Veterans Association, a bogus charity with a nonexistent board of directors and a post office box for a headquarters that is reported to have bilked unsuspecting donors of more than $100 million.

U.S. Navy Veterans Association
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/10/ohio_grand_jury_indicts_us_nav.html

Google DU. You'll find links. For example:

Feds Catch Navy Veterans Charity 'Scammer'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1179401

ETA: the scammer was going by the name Bobby Thompson. The group's name was the U.S. Navy Veterans Association. Good luck with searches.

[Archae]

1. Has anyone ever found out his real name yet?

The scammer, that is.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. I had no luck finding out anything about this.

The Googles didn't know what was going on. For example, where is the trial to take place? I tried the Roanoke Times and the newspaper in St. Petersburg, Florida, both of which have been on top of this. Nada. I ended up emailing the law firm where Bob Dole is of counsel. I will know more when I hear from them.

[Downwinder]

4. There is a Wikipedia page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_Veterans_Association

On October 1, 2012 authorities announced that they allege Thompson's true identity is of fugitive John Donald Cody, a former Army intelligence officer and 1972 graduate of Harvard Law School who had been eluding investigators since 1984.[29] Cody remains in custody without bond.

[RandiFan1290]

2. I had it confused with another republican veteran "charity" scam

http://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-lt-gov-jennifer-carroll-resigns-amid-300/story?id=18728228

Florida's lieutenant governor has resigned and 57 people have been charged amid a $300 million gambling operation allegedly masked as a veterans charity.

"Operation Reveal the Deal uncovered a sophisticated racketeering and money laundering scheme stemming from 49 illegal gambling centers operating under the guise of 'internet cafes,'" investigators wrote in a statement. "The organization falsely claimed to be a charitable veterans' organization, but instead deceived the public and government while lining the pockets of its operators."

Of the $300 million in proceeds from the gambling centers run by a purported non-profit called Allied Veterans of the World, only 2 percent of the money went to charitable organizations, according to police.

...

The phone for Allied Veterans of the World, which is federally registered as a tax-exempt veterans organization that operates for charitable purposes, have been disconnected and the organization did not respond to emails.

[Downwinder]

5. A good reason for the IRS to check out 501s.