8 WISCONSIN RESIDENTS CHARGED IN $10-MILLION RACKETEERING RING
Wednesday, February 15th, 2006 -- 11:26 AM
Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager and Eau Claire County District Attorney Richard White announced Tuesday that a criminal complaint has been filed in Eau Claire County Circuit Court charging eight individuals with using deceptive solicitations to raise money on behalf of questionable charitable entities.The suspects range in age from 27- to 39-years-old and hail mainly from Western Wisconsin.
The complaint alleges that the defendants, operating through various business entities, used deceptive telephone solicitations to collect over $10 million in contributions from out-of-state donors.
They claimed to be acting on behalf of claimed charitable entities such as the American Deputy Sheriffs Association (ADSA), the Coalition of Police and Sheriffs (COPS), the American Veterans Relief Foundation, the Association of Disabled Firefighters, the Disabled Firefighters Fund, the Veterans Assistance Council, and the Coalition of Disabled Firefighters.
The defendants are each charged with violating 'Wisconsin's' racketeering statute, which carries a possible penalty of 15 years in prison on each count and a fine of up to twice the amount of donations obtained through the criminal activity.
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