Updated: Authorities to reveal identity of accused charity scammer
The man known as "Bobby Thompson," identified today as John Donald Cody
Federal authorities finally have determined the identity of a man who used the name Bobby Thompson and allegedly ran a fraudulent veterans charity that bilked donors in Virginia and other states out of millions of dollars.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that authorities will disclose Thompson’s identity this morning in a press conference at the federal courthouse in Cleveland. Thompson is in custody in Ohio awaiting trial on charges of theft, money laundering, corruption and tampering with records for his role running the now-defunct U.S. Navy Veterans Association. He also has been under investigation in Virginia, where the USNVA collected at least $2 million from state residents.
Authorities said Thompson stole the identity of a Washington man to orchestrate a fundraising scam that generated tens of millions of dollars since 2001. The Florida-based organization collected at least $2 million from Virginia residents over a five-year period that ended in 2010, according to findings by the state’s consumer affairs agency that were made public last year.
Thompson gave $55,500 to the campaign of Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in 2009. After Thompson went missing in 2010, Cuccinelli donated the sequestered campaign funds plus interest to veterans support groups in the state.
Update: The Tampa Bay Times reports that authorities will announce that the suspect’s name is John Donald Cody, a former military intelligence officer who has been on an FBI wanted list since 1987.
– Michael Sluss
October 1, 2012 - 8:43 AM
Good for Cuccinelli ! ALL Military personel go to Heroesvote.org …You need to vote and it WILL be counted.
If people want to know what I stand for, they can look at my record as governor.” ~ Mitt Romney
Let’s see…
Under Gov. Romney, Massachusetts fell to 47th out of 50 in job creation:
Before Romney’s time as governor, Massachusetts ranked 36th out of 50 in job creation, but over the course of his tenure the state ranked a dismal 47th out of 50—even as the national economy was growing. The Bay State only beat Michigan, Ohio, and Louisiana—which was still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Gov. Romney created or raised over 1,000 taxes and fees:
Though he promised he wouldn’t raise taxes as governor, he increased taxes and fees by as much as $750 million per year, leaving the average taxpayer to pay an extra $1,227 in state and local fees and taxes. During his first year in office, Romney raised fees on milk, driver’s licenses, hospitals, nursing and barber licenses, and even on the blind.
Gov. Romney left behind a huge budget deficit:
Romney broke his pledge to balance the budget and left his successor, Gov. Deval Patrick, with a $1 billion budget deficit. Long-term debt increased by 16% over Romney’s four-year term, and he left Massachusetts with the highest debt per person in
the nation.