Man Arrested for Fraud After Using Homeless Veterans

Deputies arrest Ormond man in veterans charity fraud

Daytona Beach News Journal

Seth Robbins
December 29, 2017

An Ormond Beach man has been accused of running a sham veterans charity after investigators said he scammed several local businesses that had provided services for a benefit golf tournament headlined by a former NFL player.

Christopher Blake, 46, faces a felony charge of organized scheme to defraud after he received donations and services under the guise of a charity called “Second Chance Veterans Foundation,” Volusia County sheriff’s detectives said.

Blake held a late October golf tournament at DeBary Golf and Country Club where he brought in a friend, retired NFL football player Gerald Riggs, to be the star. But the golf course, a sign maker, a hotel and even Riggs were left empty-handed after Blake paid them with bad checks for their services or tried to skirt payment entirely, according to a charging affidavit.

The website for Blake’s charity, which boasted of a Memorial Day raffle of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was said to have been donated by Bruce Rossmeyer’s Harley-Davidson, was also investigated. The raffle was to be held at Ace Cafe in Orlando, and the proceeds from it were to go to the area’s homeless veterans. But when Elmazi contacted the motorcycle dealership and the cafe, both owners said that the advertising was false.

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Empty Envelope Delivered to Veterans Charity By Fraud

Empty promise: Local veterans charity thought big gift was coming
KGW NBC News
Kyle Iboshi
Published on July 31, 2017

LIFT FOR THE 22 HAD NEVER RECEIVED SUCH A LARGE DONATION IN ITS TWO YEARS OF EXISTENCE. THE FUNDS WOULD ALLOW THE NONPROFIT TO PAY FOR THE 350 VETS WHO WERE WAITING FOR GYM MEMBERSHIPS.

PORTLAND, Ore. — It was a donation that would change everything. A Gresham man promised to contribute $425,000 to a nonprofit organization that provides gym memberships to veterans. The Beaverton-based charity, Lift For The 22, celebrated the announcement with a check presentation streamed live on its Facebook page.

“This is going to take us to the next level,” said Lift For The 22 co-founder Dennis Wright as he received an envelope from Garyn Bowen. The 22-year-old Bowen said he was a wealthy business owner who wanted to help the program by providing cash, connections and access to his corporate jet.

In reality, the envelope was empty. Bowen never delivered the money.

“I figured the guy must be doing something right to donate that kind of money,” said Robert Sanders, who met Bowen at the gym. “It was all made up. It was all a lie.”
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