wote:

Because so many of ARC's former donors
have figured out that ARC is a scam,
they've stopped sending money. So
instead, Karen Wakeland has stepped up
her fundraising efforts and is mailing
out monthly solicitation letters,
disguised as "newsletters" (some of you
have sent us her January and February
2004 mailings), filled with chatty
descriptions of the wonderful work ARC
is doing, itemizations of her monthly
expenses, thanks and praise for her
diehard supporters, and pleas for more
money and donated items =96 like "two
washing machines," when she doesn't even
have running water! If you receive these
newsletters, you'll notice there's very
little in them about the animals =96 just
some photos of cats, and an occasional
bird, that are probably long gone,
accompanied by requests for (guess
what!) MORE MONEY to sponsor them, to
the tune of $25 to $50 per month =96 when
she's claiming to receive donations of
almost $8,000 *per month*!

I think you can do a lot more damage than just filing a lawsuit. I am
not a lawyer, but it seems to me that a lot of criminal offenses have
been committed in this situation. Since Karen W. is soliciting donations
fraudulently and using the USPS to do it, that becomes mail fraud which
is a federal offense.(Make sure everyone you've contacted that has made
donations has copies of the checks as these will be useful in court.)
The first thing you need to do is contact the state attorney general's
office. I would also contact the city attorney/prosecutor for the city
she resides in and the local postal service bigwigs as well. Another
thing that you need to do is contact the IRS and report her. Even if she
has 501c3 status, there are regulations one has to follow and I'm
betting she is in violation. If she doesn't have that status she's in
BIG trouble if she hasn't reported the, according to HER OWN WORDS,
$8000 per month income. (Did you save the newsletters???? They are very
incriminating in many areas and she is unwittingly building a case
against herself.) I also would start contacting some of the large law
firms in your area. Many of them do pro bono work and this would be a
case that would be good publicity for a firm that volunteered their
services. I would not spend $5000 on a retainer until you have exhausted
all other options as that is money that can be better put to use helping
animals in need rather than lawyers. It would also be better to sue
after you have her convicted criminally. My motto is "never be afraid to
ask because they just might say yes" and I think you have a good chance
of finding a firm to represent you for free.


Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
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