R.I. fundraising co. owner fined in Mass.

BOSTON – The founder of a Rhode Island-based professional fundraising company has been ordered to pay $125,000 in civil penalties for using deceptive tactics while soliciting money for a veterans charity, Mass. Attorney General Martha Coakley announced last week.
According to a news release, a final judgment was entered last week in Suffolk Superior Court by Judge Heidi Brieger against Thomas Gity Jr., of Pompano Beach, Fla., founder of Rhode Island-based fundraiser, Dynamic Marketing Solutions Inc. Under the judgment, Gity was ordered to pay $125,000 in civil penalties for engaging in deceptive practices and statutory violations while conducting charitable solicitations for Bay State Vietnam Veterans Inc., a Somerset-based charity.
In August 2012, a preliminary injunction was obtained in conjunction with a lawsuit filed by the AG’s office against Bay State, Dynamic, Gity and Dynamic’s president, John Chaves, of Warren. Last week, Coakley’s office was granted a final judgment and assessment of damages against Gity for his failure to comply with the terms of the preliminary injunction and failure to file any pleadings in the matter.
According to the complaint filed in August 2012, the AG’s office alleges Dynamic, hired by Bay State to raise funds, deceived potential donors by falsely stating that 100 percent of their donations would benefit veterans. In fact, 15 percent of the solicited funds went to support veterans and 85 percent of the funds went back to Dynamic for its fundraising services. •

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