CLARK COUNTY, INDIANA – A Secret Service investigation has led to federal charges today against four individuals who are alleged to have stolen over $125,000 in an elaborate fraud scheme posing as fundraisers for America’s veterans and their families.
The four defendants – James D. Linville, 44, Thomas A. Johnson, 42, Amy L. Bennett, 40, and Joanie Watson, 38 – were charged by criminal complaint and arrested this week.
The conspiracy was led by Linville who filed paperwork with the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office to form the Wounded Warrior Fund, Inc. and the Wounded Warrior Foundation, Inc. in a scheme to solicit donations from individuals and businesses residing in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Linville and Johnson contacted businesses and individuals around the Midwest in an attempt to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Fund and the Wounded Warrior Foundation accounts by stating the funds were for veterans and their families in the surrounding area. They solicited funds by telephone, facsimile and in person; many individuals were led to believe they were donating to the nationally renowned Wounded Warrior Project.
"The results of this investigation are a testament to the Secret Service’s commitment to strong partnerships between local and federal law enforcement agencies," said Richard Ferretti, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Louisville Field Office. "We would like to thank the Clark County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Southern District of Indiana for their hard work and partnership in this case."
Linville and Johnson are alleged to have used the aliases of "Sergeant Bob Johnson" and "Paul Bradley" when making the solicitations. By using aliases, they masked their true identity and in many cases misled the donors into believing they were being solicited by a former military member thus adding to their credibility. In one scheme, the defendants solicited for donations to purchase overseas calling cards and in another, they requested school supplies for active duty military families.
Throughout the conspiracy, it is alleged that the defendants collected donations from over 1000 individuals and businesses totaling over $125,000 in cash, gift cards, merchandise and in-kind donations. If convicted, all defendants face up to 20 years imprisonment.