Bingo license in jeopardy for area nonprofit

There are a number of grounds in the notice issued by Peter Thomas, chief of the Attorney General’s charitable law section.

According to the notice, Rose allegedly:

• paid consulting fees to former politician Michael A. Fox, in violation of the Ohio Revised Code;

• failed to either use, donate or transfer net profits from bingo and net profits from the sales of instant bingo for a charitable purpose listed on the organization’s application;

• used slot machines for profit;

• paid bingo game operators compensation and tips;

• lied about gross bingo receipts on the 2010 bingo license application;

• used the sale of instant bingo tickets as the “primary source of retail income;”

• either withheld or denied the Attorney General access to records;

Attorney for CCR Ministries, Kurt Gearhiser, said he has 30 days to request a hearing on the notice issued last week. He said he needs to discuss the issue with Rose and will make a determination between March 10 and 15.

“My belief is that once we request a hearing that the allegations that have been raised in the letter will be proved to be untrue,” Gearhiser said.

A settlement was reached between the Ohio Attorney General’s office and Rose regarding the 2008 intent to reject notice.

Fox connections

Rose and CCR Ministries has been linked to Fox, who has been federally indicted for allegedly improperly benefiting from a contract to build the county’s fiber optics network and mail fraud.

Both Rose and CCR Ministries are mentioned numerous times in the federal court documents.

According to the indictments, between December 2004 and July 2007, Fox “directly and indirectly” solicited payments, gifts and other benefits from Rose.

The indictment claims the benefits and payments were in excess of $300,000 and were “improperly obtained” by Fox “as reward for favorable treatment rendered” to CCR and its charitable activities.

Fox’s trial is set to begin April 11 in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.

Contact this reporter at (513)

820-2175

or

mpitman

@coxohio.com.

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