Money recovered in alleged scam benefits for vets

COLUMBUS (AP) — Nine veterans’ charities have received $76,000 recovered in an Ohio investigation into an alleged scam that solicited millions from donors across the country by promising the money would help veterans.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says his office made a $6,000 grant today to the Missing in America Project that works to identify and bury unclaimed cremated veterans’ remains. It’s the last of the nine charities to receive funds from the probe of the now-defunct U.S. Navy Veterans Association.

DeWine’s office says a court had ordered the money go to organizations that benefit veterans.

Authorities say the leader of the bogus charity, from Florida, used the alias Bobby Thompson. He remains at large on a 2010 indictment. The group’s treasurer was sentenced in August to five years in prison.