Charity received no funds from doll sales; Florida sues company

Orlando Sentinel

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Jacksonville, Fla., company that elicited a stormy public reaction when it announced plans to sell a doll inspired by slain toddler Caylee Marie Anthony is under fire again.

This time, Showbiz Promotions has caught the attention of Florida’s attorney general, who filed suit against the business and its owner Thursday.

Showbiz president Jaime Salcedo is accused of purposefully misrepresenting where proceeds from the sales of the Caylee Sunshine dolls would go, according to Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum.

According to the lawsuit, cayleedoll.com claimed it would donate 100 percent of the profits from the Sunshine Doll Collection to charity. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was supposedly selected as the charity.

Showbiz made it appear as though a $5,000 donation was made to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. But the only donation the nonprofit received from the company or Salcedo was for $10, the suit alleges.

Salcedo told The Orlando Sentinel on Thursday he couldn’t comment on the lawsuit or the allegations.

The lawsuit states a link was posted on cayleedoll.com that directed viewers to see the first donation made by Showbiz to the national nonprofit. A screenshot showed Showbiz Promotions made a $5,000 donation on March 6.

But the nonprofit’s records show the only donation it received came from Salcedo on March 12 for $10. The nonprofit did not receive a donation from Showbiz, nor any other additional proceeds from Salcedo, the lawsuit said.

When a Sentinel reporter asked Salcedo if he or the company made a $5,000 donation to the NCMEC, he wouldn’t comment.

When asked about the screenshot of a supposed online donation confirmation included in the lawsuit, Salcedo said he never posted any kind of proof of donation on the Web site.

The Inspirational Caylee Sunshine Doll came under fire in January when the product was announced. The doll plays a song when her bellybutton is pushed, and was for sale for $29.99.

The attorney general’s office has received several complaints about Caylee Sunshine merchandise.

One complaint, from a Texas woman, urged the attorney general to investigate Showbiz Promotions. “This is a crime against the family who has suffered so much already!” the woman wrote. “Making a profit from the death of this little girl should be outlawed!”

The toddler’s remains were found Dec. 11, and her mother, Casey Anthony, 23, formerly of Trumbull County, is charged with her murder.

Even before the Caylee doll was announced, Showbiz was already the center of an active civil investigation by the attorney general’s office. Showbiz claimed it would donate profits of its Michael Vick dog-chew toys to local animal shelters.

But the attorney general’s office said little or no contributions have been made to these organizations.