Texas charges Veterans Support Organization
The Austin American-Statesman reports that a Florida-based veterans service organization, Veterans Support Organization has been charged by the Texas Attorney General with stealing from well-meaning citizens, telling them that their donations would go to local needy veterans. It was those guys standing outside supermarkets.
According to the lawsuit, the group raised $2.5 million in the state between 2010 and 2012.
The attorney general’s office is also seeking tens of thousands of dollars in fines against VSO president Richard Van Houten and three associates.
In February, the American-Statesman published an investigation into the group, revealing that it gave less than 1 percent of the $7.1 million it raised from the public in 2011 in grants to needy veterans. Members of the Austin and Dallas chapters quit as a group in December after managers said they became aware of how much money the group was sending out of state.
Yeah, well, a VSO called VSO would have twigged me to scam, but, I’m not in Texas.
Category: Phony Vet Charities
That’s the same bunch that was busted in our neck of the woods last fall. They do get around.
Assholes and thieves, I hope there is a special place in hell for them.
Last year, on the way back from Tampa, my wife and I stopped at a rest area for a break. There was a guy there wearing ACUs but looked like he had no idea how to wear the uniform and had a very official looking sign. I never caught the name but I should have taken pictures. I questioned the guy and it was obvious to me that he was FOS. Unfortunatley, time was not on my side and we had 14 hours of driving left so I could not investigate properly. I wonder if this is the same organization
Three weeks ago or so, I am limping into Walmart with my son. It is chapping ass cold outside. There are two Mexicans selling Kettle Corn. Now first, I hate Kettle Corn and if I liked it I wouldn’t buy it outside on a day that is 23 degrees. I think of popcorn products as being hot. They ask if I want to buy some and I ask, as always, who are you selling it for? They reply, “the veterans”. Which piqued my interest so I ask, “What is the name of your veteran’s organization?” Then in the broken English comes, “it’s just for you know the veterans, all veterans”. Now I’m pissed and look at them and say, “Bullshit!” So I go inside find the manager because they are not suppose to sell in front of the stores without manager approval and tell him the story. He did the right thing. Threw down his papers and muttered something under his breath and went outside and told them to hit the bricks. I caught up to them in time to hear him shout, “that’s not what you told me, now get your stuff and beat feet off the property or I’ll call the police!” Good for him. I mean first, they find this discounted, week old Kettle Corn from God knows where and set up shop to line there pockets, “for the veterans”. Must have been for the Mexican veterans of the upcoming Cinco De Mayo celebration. TURDS. Man I hate people like that. I just wonder how many people, especially the non English speaking types they sold the shit to before they were run off.
A special place in hell … indeed.
I am a life member of the DAV. I intend to also join the local Legion post. There are four organizations that get money from me each year. I don’t have much left over as it is, but I give to Soldier’s Angels, The DAV, the American Legion, and our local Soup Kitchen & Food Bank group.
What really torques me, though, as stated above, are these frikkin’ scammers and what they do to the reputations of actual VSO groups. To my mind, the best way to deal with them is NOT through the courts, but to let the actual veteran’s groups deal with them directly. They’d be praying to whatever Gods they know right quickly to be put into jail, rather than turned over to a bunch of angry vets bent of retribution.
“I am a life member of the DAV” / “These frikkin’ scammers”
The mention of the DAV reminds me: There are at least 150K registered charities, including some 60,000 with the word ‘veteran’ in the title, many of which have nearly indistinguishable names (i.e., the DVA (Disabled Veterans Association), the DAV (Disabled American Veterans), the DAV Charitable Service Trust, the ASDV (Association for Service Disabled Veterans), etc.).
The confusion is intentional. In fact, scammers receive far less than “legitimate” charities (see the relationship between the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, Brickmill, Quadriga Art re how telemarketers have all but started charities, for their own profit). Indeed, the irony of the U.S. Navy Veterans Association fraud case is that Thompson/the USNVA, which raised $100 million in donations through aggressive telemarketing campaigns, could have pursued nearly the exact same scheme without breaking the law.
I wonder if Commander Phil Monkress of All-Points Logistics sits on their board?
Fortunately, being a member of both the AmLegion and VFW in this (relatively) smaller town, you know who does the bulk of the “legit” fundraising, and who is just trying to run a scam.
Fortunately, most of the folks around here don’t pull the veteran scams.
Another Texas outfit? Don’t forget those worthless Show of Support idiots from Midland Texas who AGAIN honored cop (resigned) Shane Ladner AFTER he was busted for molesting the truth.
Beretverde you’re right! Don’t want to forget Shane (I got my wife’s leg cut off because I was in the middle of a poser parade) Ladner.
I bet they’ve filed for SSI Disability payments due to her now-missing leg!! I wonder what the tonnage of that train that hit them was, I’m betting that it was at least 10 or 12,000 tons, a unit coal train is usually around 15,000 tons!
“Florida based organization”
Texas is bringing charges against them. According to th Austin un-American Statesman.
You used to see them at Sam’s Club in Florida. They were outed a couple years ago and haven’t seen them since.
“revealing that it gave less than 1 percent of the $7.1 million it raised from the public in 2011 in grants to needy veterans”.
Sounds as if it was run the same as United Way and the Red Cross.
The only organization that I donate to in front of any store is the Salvation Army Bell Ringers(I was a bell ringer for one season). Any one else I simply tell them no. That also include the Girl Scouts selling cookies, like I get hit up by everyone else during the cookie season as it is.
OIF I gotta agree with you. Only because you can’t go to the store anymore without getting accosted/molested by a horde of amateur salespeople. (“I’m sorry I don’t have any cash on me. That’s okay we take checks and debit now!”) Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Vets for Peace, Vets for Vets, Bikers for Vets, Vets for More Stripes On Their Uniform, Gays and Lesbians for Vets, (Yes I DID get hammered by a bunch of “them” at Safeway a year ago!) and of course my favorite current one (story written above), Mexicans for Vets Selling Frozen Kettle Corn!
Ditto, Sparks, my favorite line to them is ” I already bought some.” and the only time I donate is if it’s a Salvation Army kettle. I saw them at work doing Hurricane Duty in ’04, and they were there, up and running before the red Cross even got there! The Read Cross has a Director’s Board, each of which draws a six-figure salary while The Commanding General of the Salvation Army draws about $36,000 a year, it’s what they do with the money that counts to me!
Proud I couldn’t have said it better. I never miss a Salvation Army pot if I pass one.
As opposed to: Some salaries for organizations as of Nov. 2012 from Snopes.com
The American Red Cross
President and CEO Marsha J. Evans’ salary for the year was $651,957 plus expenses
MARCH OF DIMES
It is called the March of Dimes because only a dime for every 1 dollar is given to the needy.
The United Way
President Brian Gallagher receives a $375,000 base salary along with numerous expense benefits.
UNICEF
CEO Caryl M. Stern receives $1,200,000 per year (100k per month) plus all expenses including a ROLLS ROYCE.
Less than 5 cents of your donated dollar goes to the cause.
GOODWILL CEO and owner Mark Curran profits $2.3 million a year.
Goodwill is a very catchy name for his business.
You donate to his business and then he sells the items for PROFIT.
He pays nothing for his products and pays his workers minimum wage! Nice Guy. $0.00 goes to help anyone!
Unfortunate, but true.
That is why I always give to the Salvation Army or a local organization that I research.
I can’t wait to hear what their sentences will be once convicted. The State of Texas IS NOT NICE to its prison inmates!!
VSO. USO.
They don’t look too much alike. No, not much.
Is this group associated with the”nonprofit” veterans community foundation?
No they are not but from what I have seen the same employees that worked for VSO now work for VCF. So what does that tell you? Managers, panhandlers all of them are ex VSO employees. Just sounds like a new scam to me!