Since 2003, Ohioans have contributed
close to $1.9 million to the U.S. Navy Veterans Association.
It appears that very few of these donations actually helped veterans.
Our investigators have determined that this individual stole the identity
of someone else and used that as the centerpiece of an apparent scam
that has continued for seven years and involved tens of millions of
dollars.
The real Bobby Thompson, whose identity was stolen, including his Social
Security number and date of birth,
has absolutely no connection to the U.S. Navy Veterans Association.
The arrest warrant is based on evidence that this individual used a
false identity in the process of renting a UPS mailbox in Cincinnati
in 2003.
The mailbox was used as a collection point for donations to the charity.
In late May, my office ordered the USNVA to stop contacting Ohio residents
for contributions after determining that the group's charitable registration
documents were plagued with irregularities.
Those documents contain false and misleading information,
including the names of association officers who also appear to be fictional.
Anyone with information about this individual or his whereabouts is
asked to contact the
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation at (740) 845-2224
or (800) 282-3784.
For more information about this apparent sham charity, visit:
www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/USNavyVetsMaterials
