FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 22, 2002

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Chuck Davis (609) 292-4791 - OAG
David Filippelli (973) 214-4010 - Rep. Pascrell
Genene Morris (973) 504-6327 - Consumer Affairs

TRENTON - Attorney General David Samson today announced an agreement with two Florida-based charitable organizations and their principals, sued by the State for violations of the Charitable Registration and Investigation Act, that requires the defendants to immediately and permanently cease any fund-raising activities in New Jersey.

The settlement agreement follows an investigation into New Jersey Firefighters Foundation, Inc., ("NJFF"), Christian Police Ministries, Inc., doing business in New Jersey as New Jersey Police Foundation, Inc., ("NJPF"), Estel Senn, the groups' president and his wife, Etha, the groups' vice president. The Attorney General launched the investigation into NJFF, NJPF and the Senns at the request of U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, (D-NJ-8) who was contacted by concerned firefighters in his congressional district. The investigation led to the June filing of administrative complaints against the organizations and the Senns.

"We made it clear when we first filed suit against these defendants that we were serious about putting a stop to their unlawful activities in order to protect the citizens of this State," Attorney General Samson said. "The agreement we're announcing today accomplishes that by barring these defendants from doing business here in New Jersey."

"This settlement by our Attorney General sends a clear message," Rep. Pascrell said. "If you attempt to prey upon New Jerseyans' compassion and support for charitable causes, you will pay the price. If you try to operate bogus charities in the name of helping heroic first responders and the families of heroes we have lost, you will be stopped. The days of Mr. Senn misleading and defrauding the people of this State from his Florida headquarters are over."

"Consumers who believe they have been misled by deceptive charitable appeals should know they are not on their own," Consumer Affairs Director Reni Erdos said. "We are encouraging consumers who have complaints against charitable organizations to call our Charities Hotline at 973-504-6215 to file a complaint. Today's announcement proves that we are intent on rooting out unscrupulous charities."

As part of the agreement, the defendants must also pay civil monetary penalties. NJFF and NJPF must pay $2,500 each in civil penalties and costs. The Senns, of Sarasota, Fla., must pay $1,500 in penalties and costs. The agreement, filed August 16, also requires the defendants to instruct any professional paid fundraisers working on their behalf to immediately end all solicitation activities on their behalf.

In June, the State alleged in two separate administrative complaints that the organizations and the Senns engaged in deceptive and misleading acts that induced consumers into making donations to the groups.

The complaints, filed before the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, also alleged the defendants violated the State's charities laws by:

• mailing invoices or pledge cards thanking donors for their pledge and requesting payment by a certain date to people who had declined or refused to make a contribution and/or to people who had only requested information;
  
  
• misrepresenting in written solicitations the address of NJPF and NJFF to be in New Jersey, when, in fact, they share the same principal place of business in Bradenton, Fla.;
  
  
• utilizing a charity name suggesting an affiliation with a governmental entity when, in fact, no such affiliation exists.

In addition, the complaint against NJFF alleged that the group falsely represented itself as a tax exempt organization.

Deputy Attorney General Sharon McCloskey of the Division of Law handled this matter for the State.