A fundraising company that solicited donations on behalf of the Pennsylvania State Constables Association and other police and fire organizations, including the labor unions representing Allentown's police and fire departments, has been fined $75,000 for violations of charity laws.
Atlantic Productions President Andrew Szewczuk, 37, of Upper Macungie Township, signed an agreement with the state attorney general's office that requires annual payments of $15,000 and the end of illegal and deceitful fundraising practices uncovered by the state.
The company, located at 1533 Allen St., hired telemarketers with criminal records who pretended to be constables and firefighters and led contributors into believing their donations would directly benefit their local municipalities, but the money actually funded fraternal and member-only organizations, according to state Attorney General Linda Kelly
Telemarketers "misled donors into thinking that they were speaking with firefighters, constables or other public safety officials instead of paid professional solicitors," a news release from Kelly's office said.
Atlantic Productions also sent law enforcement agency stickers or decals labeled as "official" on behalf of the constables association to acknowledge the donation, which is illegal under the Solicitations of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act. In addition, the company was not registered to do business in Pennsylvania.
The news release from Kelly's office did not disclose how much money Atlantic Productions raised, but the agreement covers the fundraising activities performed on behalf of five organizations.
In addition to the Pennsylvania Constables Association, the company raised money for Allentown's police labor union, Fraternal Order of Police Queen City Lodge No. 10; Allentown's fire labor union, International Association of Firefighters Local 302; the Reading Police Beneficial Association; and the Rajah Shriners Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in Reading.
The attorney general's office sent warning letters to the organizations notifying them of their failure to properly oversee fundraising.
Local 302 President John Stribula said the union has not had an opportunity to review the attorney general's concerns.
He said the union has contracted with the Atlantic Productions for "a number of years" to solicit donations for the union's welfare fund, which benefits retired firefighters. He said firefighters with limited pensions, in some cases as little as $200 a week, are eligible to receive cash supplements through the fund.
Stribula declined to discuss the size of the fund, but he said the fund falls under the union's constitution and bylaws and has been invested.
Copyright 2012 - The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.)
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
