| NEWARK
– The National Animal Welfare Foundation
(NAWF) and principal Patrick G. Jemas are
permanently banned from any future charitable
activities in New Jersey and from registering
and operating as a charitable organization,
independent paid fund-raiser or solicitor
in New Jersey based upon a final judgment
and order, Attorney General Zulima V. Farber
and Consumer Affairs Director Kimberly Ricketts
announced.
“This judgment underscores that New
Jersey will not tolerate those who take
advantage of the generosity of our citizens
and break the law,” said Attorney
General Farber. “This decision will
serve as a warning to disreputable charities
and organizations throughout New Jersey
and will protect those legitimate charities
who do comply with our charities laws.”
Specifically, the final judgment:
- permanently
bars NAWF and Jemas from conducting
any fund raising activities including,
but not limited to, the solicitation
of charitable contributions by telephone
or mail, and from conducting solicitations
of charitable contributions;
- permanently
bars NAWF and Jemas from applying for
registration as a charitable organization,
independent paid fund raiser or solicitor;
- permanently
bars NAWF and Jemas from serving as
an officer, director, owner, agent,
employee, volunteer or representative
of any fund-raising corporation which
conducts solicitations or which solicits
charitable contributions;
- authorizes
the state to collect and impound collection
canisters and orders NAWF and Jemas
to cooperate fully in that effort; and
- orders
NAWF and Jemas to pay civil penalties,
attorneys’ fees and investigative
costs in the total amount of $330,804.26.
“This
case is one of the more egregious examples
we have seen of one unprincipled individual
preying on the good intentions of well-meaning
people solely for personal gain,”
said Consumer Affairs Director Ricketts.
“By permanently barring them from
charitable activities, this judgment helps
ensure that NAWF and Jemas never again take
advantage of New Jersey consumers.”
The
Attorney General’s Office and Division
of Consumer Affairs filed suit in January,
2006 against the Union Township charity
and its principal for allegedly misleading
consumers about how their donations would
be used. NAWF and Jemas failed to comply
with the Charitable Registration and Investigation
Act and related regulations in numerous
ways including making untruthful statements
and misrepresentations, failing to include
a required statement on canisters, failing
to maintain complete and accurate records
and failing to comply with the Attorney
General’s investigation.
Between fiscal years 2002 and 2005, NAWF
collected $70,795 in canister donations
but spent $75,891 on expenses that included
fund-raising, payroll, meals, automobiles
and printing. In only one of these fiscal
years did the reported canister donations
exceed the organization’s reported
expenses.
Deputy Attorney General Brian M. Brennan
represented the State in this matter.
Any consumer who sees a NAWF canister should
call the Division at 973-504-6299 to report
its location. The public can also obtain
information about charitable organizations
and paid fund-raisers who are registered
to operate in New Jersey by contacting Consumer
Affairs’ Charitable Registration Unit
at 973-504-6215 or by going to the Unit’s
web site, www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/ocp.htm#charity.
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