Two defendants charged with theft for selling raffle tickets to benefit a nonexistent Navy/Marine Family Relief Fund

Wheaton - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett and DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba, announced today that Donald L. McCarver, (dob 4/16/65), 324 North Ardmore, Villa Park and his fianceé Anne M. Pellegrini, (dob 12/28/64), of the same address, were  charged both with felony Theft by Deception and False Impersonation of Charitable Organization after receiving a tip from DuPage County Crime Stoppers that the two were passing themselves off as military reservists to fraudulently collect money from unsuspecting shoppers in area grocery and discount stores.

Soon after the tip, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office was notified by a Dominick’s representative that the two were in their store at Route 53 and Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn. Investigators sent to the scene observed a woman dressed in a Navy dress uniform, accompanied by a man in civilian clothes sitting at a table selling raffle tickets.  The raffle was to end over Memorial Day weekend.    When approached, the two insisted they were military personnel and the charity they were collecting for was legitimate.  Follow up investigation with the Navy revealed neither were active military personnel and that the charity they were soliciting for, the Navy/Marines Family Relief Fundraiser does not exist. 

States Attorney Birkett stated, “Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.  To exploit the men and women who protect our rights and freedoms on the day that we honor them and to misrepresent members of our military for financial gain is a disgrace.”

“The fact that these people were fooling the public into donating money to a phony charity to benefit military personnel is deplorable,” Sheriff Zaruba said, “But the fact that they are doing this around the Memorial Day holiday, makes it even more upsetting.”

Both McCarver, who was also charged with one count of Obstructing Justice for allegedly giving investigators a false name and birth date, and Pellegrini are currently being held in the DuPage County Jail. They are due to appear in bond court this afternoon.  The theft charges are Class 3 felonies punishable from 2 to 5 years in the penitentiary.  The Obstruction Justice charge is a Class 4 felony and punishable from 1 to 3 years in the penitentiary.  The False Impersonation of a Charitable Organization is a misdemeanor.  All charges are probationable.

Investigators are asking anyone who believes they may have made a donation to this fund to call the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office at (630) 407-2400.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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