Feds: $187M in Cancer Charity Pocketed

Four cancer charities ran a massive scam for decades that saw $187 million in donations funneled into the pockets of its leaders and virtually nothing given to charity, the Federal Trade Commission alleged Tuesday. Investigators said the Cancer Fund of America, Cancer Support Services, Children’s Cancer Fund of America, and the Breast Cancer Society were all linked to one director, James Reynolds Sr.; donors were told that money raised would pay to transport people to chemotherapy and buy pain medication. “These were lies,” the FTC said in its complaint, which was joined by all 50 states. “Donations have enriched a small group of individuals.” Prosecutors says Reynolds was joined in the scam by his son, friends, and church members—all while spending less than 3 percent of donations on cancer-related causes. Experts say this may be one of the largest charity fraud cases ever.