Gary R. Tomey II, 47, of Pace, Florida, is headed to federal prison for 90 months after a Pensacola jury convicted him of conspiracy and mail fraud in a brazen charity scam that ripped off thousands of donors across multiple states. The sentence, handed down today in the Northern District of Florida, includes a forfeiture order of $1,219,129.46 and $6,677 in restitution.
Tomey owned and operated Children and Family Services Inc., later renamed Children’s Charitable Services Inc., a shell operation run out of a call center in Milton, Florida. From there, he directed employees to lie to donors in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee, claiming 100% of contributions went to charity and that callers were volunteers. In reality, they worked on commission—and less than 1.5% of the more than $1.2 million raised ever reached a charitable cause.
Investigators say Tomey coached staff to falsely claim the charity operated solely within the donor’s home state, creating a deceptive sense of local trust. Meanwhile, the funds were siphoned to cover call center wages, business costs, and Tomey’s personal expenses. The operation ran like a boiler room, preying on goodwill with cold, calculated precision.
The sentence was enhanced under federal guidelines because the fraud was conducted through telemarketing and because Tomey targeted more than 10 victims over the age of 55. Prosecutors emphasized the cruelty of exploiting seniors, many of whom donate out of faith or compassion, only to have their generosity funneled into a criminal enterprise.
“Fraudsters who exploit the charitable spirit of the American people, and especially those who prey upon the generosity of our seniors, can count on a thorough scrutiny and aggressive prosecution by this office,” said United States Attorney Christopher P. Canova. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia H. Kim.
“When individuals misuse funds intended for a charitable purpose, it harms all donors and honest non-profit organizations,” said Charles P. Spencer, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “The FBI is committed to investigating and rooting out this type of corruption, whether it happens in a public office or a non-profit organization.” Court records are available via the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.
Related Federal Cases
- Western Union Scam · Washington
- LA AG Warns Banks on Firearm Purchase Tracking · Indiana
- Live Nation Faces Trial Over Monopoly Practices · Washington
- Amgen Pays $71M for Pushing Drugs Off-Label · Washington
- Amgen Inc. $71M Settlement · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
