Attorney General's News Release

April 28, 2008

Web site operators who misrepresented that they run a tax-exempt charity to help military veterans to pay $21,851 in judgment won by Nixon

Kansas City, Mo. - A Independence organization will permanently stop representing that it operates a tax-exempt charity to help military veterans and its operators will jointly pay $21,851 in restitution, costs and penalties under a court order obtained today by Attorney General Jay Nixon. The court order against RCT Development Association and its operators Chris Ann McPherson, Russell Rose and Timothy Divers, who operated the organization Helping Our Heroes, was filed today in Jackson County Circuit Court.

Nixon sued the defendants for soliciting donations from businesses and individuals online for Helping Our Heroes, making several misrepresentations to potential donors including that the donations would be tax-deductible.

"Anyone who attempts to shamelessly play upon the sympathies of Missourians by invoking the name of those in service to our country to commit fraud will not be tolerated," Nixon said. "It is extremely important to pursue these types of cases so donors in Missouri are able to give to their favorite charities with confidence."

Today's permanent injunction bars RCT Development Association from the following:

• Operating the Web site www.helpingouramericanheroes.com or any other Web page in a manner that violates Missouri consumer protection laws;
• Representing that they operate a 501(c)(3) charity in connection with the solicitation of donation for military veterans;
• Referencing the Missouri Attorney General's Office or any of its employees in connection with the solicitation of donations for military veterans;
• Representing in their solicitation of donations for military veterans that those donations will be tax-exempt, or that RCT Development or Helping Our Heroes are non-profit corporations;
• Representing in those solicitations that 100 percent of the donations go towards helping homeless veterans or citing a percentage figure that is inaccurate; and
• Soliciting charitable donations in a way that violates Missouri consumer protection laws.

In addition, today's judgment requires RCT Development and its operators Chris Ann McPherson, Russell Rose and Timothy Divers to jointly pay $8,344 in restitution, $8,507 in court costs and $5,000 in civil penalties.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818