Bogus veterans 'charities'

Bogus veterans 'charity' collected millions from Ohioans

06/28/2011 - A sham veterans charity collected $6,320,719 from Ohioans during a four-year period, according to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

Registration statements seized from the U.S. Navy Veterans Association showed the charity collected the donations between 2007 and 2010. The donations were meant to go to U.S. Navy veterans, but the money was never delivered to veterans, according to the AG's office.



A key player in the charity, Blanca Contreras, pleaded guilty to four felony charges for her involvement in the charity in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas last week.

Contreras pleaded guilty to money laundering, aggravated theft, tampering with records and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

Brad Tammaro, the assistant Ohio attorney general who prosecuted the case, said Contreras signed documents saying she was the acting treasurer of the U.S. Navy Veterans Association.

Tammaro said the U.S. Navy Veterans Association used telemarketers to solicit donations in 41 states. {read more}