LIMA, OH – December 10, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — The Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Law section is seeking input from members of the public who have donated to a well-known Lima veterans’ charity.Last week, as a result of a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Richard Cordray, Michael Muhammad was ordered to stop soliciting contributions for his nonprofit organizations, Help Homeless Veterans Inc and Veterans Hope Community House Inc. The Attorney General’s Office also sought and obtained a court order to shut down Muhammad’s “veterans’ shelter” at 616 W. Elm St., Lima.
“As we prepare to litigate this case, we’re interested in hearing from anyone who donated money to Mr. Muhammad or his veterans’ shelter,” said Attorney General Richard Cordray. “We hope to identify money he has received in order to ensure those funds actually go to veterans’ causes.”
Donors are asked to contact the Attorney General’s Office by sending an e-mail to CharitableLaw (at) OhioAttorneyGeneral (dot) gov or by calling, toll-free, (855) 205-0035.
For several years, Muhammad regularly set up his donation table outside the Lima post office. He misled and confused the public by using various names of fictitious organizations including Disabled Veterans, American Disabled Veterans Home, Help House Veterans, United We Stand Veterans and Veterans Helping People.
In its lawsuit, the Attorney General’s Office alleges that Muhammad used donated funds to pay personal bills and expenses, that the “veterans’ shelter” operated as a for-profit rental property and that the living conditions in the shelter were deplorable and unsafe.
The news release announcing the filing of the lawsuit can be found at: www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/LimaVetsHomeNewsRelease.
To read the complaint, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/LimaVetsHomeComplaint.
Photos of the residence can be found at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/LimaVetsHomePhotos.
Media Contacts:
Ted Hart: (614) 728-4127
cell: (614) 743-2286
Holly Hollingsworth: (614) 644-0508
cell: (614) 353-7576
