January 23, 2005

            Lansing--Attorney General Mike Cox announced today that he has charged James Robert Imhoff of Luna Pier, Michigan, with five counts of Soliciting Charitable Contributions without a charitable solicitation license.

            "Imhoff's refusal to obtain a charitable solicitation license and follow Michigan law is a slap in the face to the generosity of the citizens of our State and to every legitimate charity that obeys the law and strives to be accountable," Cox Said.  "Any person who obtains charitable donations by playing on people's sympathies and then diverts the money to his own personal use must be dealt with severely."

            Imhoff's records show that he solicited approximately $400,000 in donations since 1997 on behalf of the Missing Children Project, Inc (MCP).  Imhoff represented that MCP was a charity formed to help find missing children.  Cox, however, has found no evidence that donations were actually used to operate a charitable organization to help find missing children.

            The Attorney General's Charitable Trust Section had previously obtained an injunction from the Ingham Circuit Court in 2004 to shut down Imhoff's operations.

            Michigan law requires most charities that solicit from Michigan residents to apply for and receive a solicitation license from the Attorney General’s Office, with churches and certain other organizations exempt from the licensing requirement.

            Imhoff has been charged with five counts of Soliciting Charitable Contributions for an organization that does not have a Charitable Solicitation License.  The charges were filed in Monroe's 1^st District Court.  Imhoff faces a penalty of six months in jail and/or a $500 fine. 

            A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

            For additional information and advice on charitable giving, visit the Attorney General’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/ag and click on “Charitable Giving.” Citizens may also call the Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Section at 517-373-1152 to ask about a specific charity. 

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