With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
State Lawsuit Says Charity Supporting Troops Misused Donations
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Tania Ibanez, Senior Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Charitable Trust Section, announce a lawsuit against the nonprofit organization Move America Forward at a press conference on July 24, 2019.
(
Jessica Flores/KPCC
)
Listen
1:04
State Lawsuit Says Charity Supporting Troops Misused Donations
A lawsuit filed by the state attorney general says Move America Forward directed donations to political campaigns and used veterans' photos without permission.
A nonprofit organization that sends care packages to soldiers is being accused by state officials of misusing charitable donations and misleading its donors.
A lawsuit filed by State Attorney General Xavier Becerra says Move America Forward plagiarized images from other charities and used photographs and quotes from veterans without permission.
The lawsuit also charges that the charity’s directors, Salvatore Russo and Shawn Callahan, violated federal tax regulations by funneling charitable assets to a conservative political action committee and at least two political campaigns.