FTC Cracks Down On Fake Charities For Veterans

The Federal Trade Commission announced two major actions against allegedly fraudulent charities for veterans Thursday.

One alleged scam known as Help the Vets, took in $20 million in donations intended for wounded and disabled veterans and Another solicited cars, boats and timeshares for several made-up veterans’ charities.

In both cases, heartwarming pleas were made but most of the donations were never passed along to veterans, according to the FTC. In fact, 95% of the money donated to the group was spent on fundraising, administrative expenses, or paid to the “Help the Vets” founder, Neil Paulson Sr., according to the FTC complaint, which was filed with cooperation of six other states on Wednesday.

“Sadly, some con artists prey on that gratitude, using lies and deception to line their own pockets. In the process, they harm not only well-meaning donors, but also the many legitimate charities that actually do great work on behalf of veterans and service members.”

The FTC suggests on its website that people research charities before making donations and recommends checking out reports and ratings from BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, or GuideStar.

Dive teams are expected to resume the search for five people missing after a tourist boat capsized and sank in a southwestern Missouri lake. Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader says at least 11 people, including children, died when the Ride the Ducks boat sank Thursday night on Table Rock Lake in Branson. Seven other people were hospitalized. Rader says the stormy weather was believed to be the cause of the capsizing.

Monaca Borough’s credit rating has improved. Their Standard & Poor rating was upgraded from A+ Negative to A+ Positive. Borough Manager, Mario Leone says “An A+ Stable rating is an extremely good rating from a governmental stance. It enhances our ability to get a lower rate on any bonds we might take out for a project.”

The park unveiled details on its mysterious “Project 412” Thursday and we learned that Steelers Country is coming to Kennywood! It will be a new roller coaster called “The Steel Curtain.”

The coaster will have a record-breaking 9 inversions, a 197-foot tall loop and a 220-foot maximum height. It will reach speeds of 75 mph and last 2 minutes.
The Steel Curtain will break the Pennsylvania record for tallest roller coaster, the North American record for most inversions and the world record for tallest inversion and is expected to open in 2019.
Kennywood says they are the first amusement park in the country to collaborate with a professional sports franchise as they will be opening a new section of the park called “Steelers Country” a themed area dedicated to the team, to the NFL experience and the fans of the team

GUILTY PLEA TO TERRORISTIC THREATS

Yuttana Choochongkol, otherwise known as Jason Manotham, was arrested Jan. 12 after making multiple terroristic threats against players and fans at Heinz Fieldand has entered a guilty plea in federal court to a charge of threatening interstate communications.

“This Sunday’s playoff game in Pittsburgh is going to be like no other… The Steelers game will be packed and that’s when I plan on killing Steelers football players and fans before taking my own pitiful life,” he allegedly wrote in one of the threats.

The FBI traced the internet IP address to a San Antonio company. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said. “We commend the FBI and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for their exceptional work in the arrest of Choochongkol, which averted a potential disaster. The safety and protection of the citizens of Western Pennsylvania remains our highest priority.”

WEATHER for FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018

TODAY: Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. High 86F.

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low 67F.

SATURDAY: Cloudy in the morning with scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. High near 80F. Chance of rain 40%.

SUNDAY: Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. High around 80F. Chance of rain 80%.

The identity of a homicide victim from early Wednesday morning in Aliquippa has been identified! Beaver County Radio’s Sandy Giordano has this report:

The bathtub completely full. An open window. Soaked Diapers, no additional clothing. No clean diapers to be found. That describes the conditions when 2 children under the age of 5 were found all alone in the Beaver Falls apartment by Salvation Army employees doing a welfare check. Police were notified. The mother, 27 yr old Kevonna Thomas came back after more than 1/2 hour. She has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and her trial is scheduled in October.

Police continue to search for 36 yr old Dana Penny who’s accused of participating in the home invasion that turned into a fatal shooting incident in Aliquippa. He is considered to be armed and dangerous.

During the early morning incident a neighbor Anthony Farley heard a woman crying for help as 2 men dressed in DEA shirts forced their way in. Farley approached & was shot. He returned fire and one of the intruders was shot & killed.

There’s an outstanding arrest warrant for Penny stemming from charges filed last month regarding possession of drugs & paraphernalia with intent to sell.

The investigation was turned over to State Police and they are asking that anyone with information regarding Penny or the shooting to call them at 724-773-7400.