Alleged Veterans Charity Scammer Found Guilty
By Jim Letizia & Ohio Public Radio & Associated Press
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Nov 15, 2013
A Cuayhoga County jury has convicted the man charged in a 100 million dollar, cross-country veterans charity fraud case.
The man identifies himself as 67-year-old Bobby Thompson. Prosecutors say he is really John Cody, an attorney who defended himself at the beginning of the trial. Last month attorney Joseph Patituce took over the defense. He says it was difficult to make a case in a short period of time.
Patituce says he plans to appeal. Sentencing is scheduled for December 16th. Cody was convicted on 23 counts, including money laundering, identity fraud, theft, and records tampering. He was charged with looting the United States Navy Veterans Association, a charity he ran in Tampa, Florida. Authorities believe he defrauded donors in Ohio and 40 other states.