Denis W. Veteran Posted September 20, 2005 Veteran Share Posted September 20, 2005 Federal charges filed in Katrina-related scamLOS ANGELES (AP) -- Two people accused of posing as American Red Cross volunteers and taking in as much as $2,000 have been charged in California in the first federal case involving an alleged Hurricane Katrina relief scam, prosecutors said. Federal law bars anyone from impersonating a Red Cross worker. A conviction can lead to five years in prison. Tino Lee, 44, of Burbank and Gina Liz Nicholas, 19, of Glendale, California, were charged Friday, the U.S. attorney's office said in a statement. Both were in custody pending a Monday hearing. It wasn't immediately clear if they had attorneys who could comment. Authorities said the two set up a table with a collection box outside a Best Buy store in Burbank and displayed fliers that read: "Help Now. American Red Cross Relief For Hurricane Katrina." They had collected as much as $2,000 in cash, as well as a check for $200, before their arrest Thursday night, authorities said. Police took them into custody after determining they lacked the paperwork to prove they represented the relief group. A 14-year-old girl also received a citation to appear in Juvenile Court. "We have taken a zero-tolerance position against those who would use a national tragedy such as Hurricane Katrina to line their pockets with money intended for victims," U.S. Attorney Debra Wong Yang said. The Red Cross rarely posts individual volunteers outside stores to raise funds and typically provides a receipt for cash donations, prosecutors said. The case comes after the U.S. Justice Department formed a task force to investigate and prosecute charity scams, insurance fraud and other disaster-related crimes. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Source - cnn.com Here's two sentences to sum it all up Volunteers = proof that there is good in humanity These idiot scammers = proof that humanity is still f'ed up :no: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellBender Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 Man, they must've been there for a long time if people's spare change got the total up to $2,000. Carrying that much in coins to the back should be punishment enough :dontgetit: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis W. Veteran Posted September 20, 2005 Author Veteran Share Posted September 20, 2005 Man, they must've been there for a long time if people's spare change got the total up to $2,000. Carrying that much in coins to the back should be punishment enough :dontgetit: 586551651[/snapback] Seeing how they're getting 5 years in prison for profiting off people's pain... don't you think this is just a mere wrist slap? on a offtopic note... this is my 1K post... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
y0sh Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 They stole my idea. Only they don't have a conscience. Happy 1k :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neufuse Veteran Posted September 20, 2005 Veteran Share Posted September 20, 2005 Seeing how they're getting 5 years in prison for profiting off people's pain... don't you think this is just a mere wrist slap?on a offtopic note... this is my 1K post... 586551670[/snapback] 5 years in federal prision is NOT a wrist slap.. it's one of the worst places you can be... and 5 years if you don't come out with some kind of diease from it or some health problem you are lucky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amrinders87 Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 5 years in federal prision is NOT a wrist slap.. it's one of the worst places you can be... and 5 years if you don't come out with some kind of diease from it or some health problem you are lucky 586551693[/snapback] They deserved it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neufuse Veteran Posted September 20, 2005 Veteran Share Posted September 20, 2005 Source - cnn.comHere's two sentences to sum it all up Volunteers = proof that there is good in humanity These idiot scammers = proof that humanity is still f'ed up :no: 586551638[/snapback] humanity will never be perfect, so saying its still like this is kind of dumb. It's been this way though out all of history, and will continue to be this way as long as people have the ability to think for themselves and have greed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuz Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 Seeing how they're getting 5 years in prison for profiting off people's pain... don't you think this is just a mere wrist slap?on a offtopic note... this is my 1K post... 586551670[/snapback] dam rite it those ****heads deserve life...its jus sad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nexus Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 Good, glad to see that street scammers are being investigated and prosecuted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwjw1 Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 5 years in federal prision is NOT a wrist slap.. it's one of the worst places you can be... and 5 years if you don't come out with some kind of diease from it or some health problem you are lucky 586551693[/snapback] actually 5 yrs in a Federal Pen is alot better than any State Pen...but the draw back is you do 87% of your sentence....reguardless, they got caught and should be punished...I just hope their are alot more caught...besides "Bubba the Butt Bandit' and 'Bertha the Bush Buster' are needing Cell Mates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kombolcha Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 past weekend i had to curse out some guy walking around with a small bucket wearing a FADED red cross shirt.. where does he even get a red cross shirt like that.. i know for a fact that the ICRC is strict about its clothing with the cross on it, they treat it as a uniform.. they just dont hand it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randolph Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 Wow this is messed up of them to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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