Alleged Ohio charity scammer gets a lawyer

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CLEVELAND, May 10 (UPI) -- A man in Ohio, accused of running a $100 million national charity scam, told a judge Thursday he has chosen not to represent himself in court.

Known as Bobby C. Thompson, a name prosecutors say is a stolen identity, he faces charges of money laundering, identity fraud and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Common Pleas Court, the (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported.

The charges were lodged in connection with his operation of the U.S. Navy Veterans Association, a charity chartered to assist veterans from 2001-2010 and allegedly used to bilk donors of an estimated $100 million,

After Thompson was informed Thursday by Judge Annette Butler that the court would not appoint a co-council to assist him in representing himself, attorney Mark Stanton was appointed to represent him, the newspaper said.

Stanton requested time to review eleven computer discs of evidence, compiled by the Ohio Attorney General's Office, against his client.

Assistant Attorney General Brad Tammaro said in court he is prepared to prosecute at any time.