Rachel Slajda
The Ohio attorney general's office
announced this month that a grand jury had indicted an alleged charity scammer, who donated tens of thousands to conservative pols, on charges of money laundering and grand theft.
The man, known as "Bobby Thompson,"
allegedly operated a charity called U.S. Navy Veterans Association from 2003 to 2010. The charity took in millions, and Thompson allegedly pocketed some 90 percent of the cash.
He used some of the money to make huge donations to conservative political candidates, including $55,000 to Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and $10,000 to Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). Both have given the donations away to (presumably real) charities, and there's no indication they knew the money was coming from a scammer.
He also liked to go to fundraisers and meet and greets, where he could shake hands and pose with Republican elites.
moreFrom the first link:
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In July, agents from the IRS and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs raided a Clair-Mel home at 2062 Balfour Circle, which is linked to Contreras and her daughter, Nancy. Agents seized computer records and boxes of documents — some already shredded — that were whisked away in an unmarked van.
Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia sought the investigation after news reports showed the Navy Veterans poured cash into Virginia in a successful effort to pass a law that waived registration requirements for veterans groups.
The Navy Veterans boasted a membership roll topping 66,000, offices in 41 states and as much as $22.4 million a year in income.
The Times investigation found the state office addresses were rented mailboxes, that its charitable gifts were all but unverifiable and that its members and officers were nowhere to be found. There was no trace of 84 of the 85 Navy Veterans officers listed nationwide.
<...>
How did this escape the national media?
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