Veteran Scam Stopped

Jim Fausone

Veteran Advocate

 

Neil Thrasher was sentenced to 17 months to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of embezzlement from a charitable organization and one count of violation of the charitable solicitation act. 

According to authorities, Thrasher created two fake charities – Paralyzed American Veterans and Disabled Veterans of American – both of which had confusingly similar names to the legitimate charities Paralyzed Veterans of America (MPVA) and Disabled American Veterans (DAV).  Thrasher used these fake charities to collect more than $180,000 from unsuspecting donors seeking to aid veterans.  He then stole a substantial portion of this money to make personal purchases at athletic clubs, liquor stores, and restaurants.

Fausone Bohn, LLP, previously represented the longstanding and well-respected charitable organization MPVA in a trademark infringement suit against the fake charities.  After a getting Thrasher to agree to a consent judgment in that case, Fausone Bohn, LLP informed the Michigan Attorney General of these fraudulent charities.  The Attorney General then pressed charges against Thrasher.

Len Selfon, Acting General Counsel for MPVA, stated that the organization is proud of the service it provides to veterans and that they will continue to protect their reputation to maintain public confidence in their mission.

In addition to prison time, Thrasher must also pay $74,400 in restitution.

If you know of someone who might be committing charity fraud, contact the experienced legal team at Fausone Bohn, LLP – Paul Bohn and Breeda O’Leary at (248) 380-0000.

To read the original article, please visit:

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/11/15/news/local_news/doc50a438d5ee432811360402.txt?viewmode=fullstory