(ProsperNews.net) – A former Goodwill CEO has been arrested and charged for stealing more than $1 million from the organization. Authorities in California charged Richard Alan Abrusci with nine counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and three counts of monetary transactions with proceeds of specified unlawful activity.
A press release from the US Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of California stated that Abrusci began working for the non-profit organization in 2016, and from then until 2021, he “fraudulently caused” it to transfer approximately $1.4 million to an account held in the name of a business that did not exist. Abrusci allegedly created the Resolution Arrangement Services (RAS) organization in 2008 with a bank account that directed funds to himself.
He transferred money to the fictitious business by filling out false invoices and purchase orders and even fabricated a lawsuit and an attorney’s letter aimed at persuading Goodwill to pay the sum of $55,000 to settle a potential lawsuit.
RAS claimed to supply information technology services and run several call centers for the State of California during the coronavirus pandemic, when in fact, it provided no such services. Abrusci faces a 20-year jail term and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.
Goodwill Industries International is a non-profit group that provides career counseling, training, and help with resumes to assist people in finding work. It is funded primarily through a chain of retail stores that sells pre-owned clothing, household goods, and “unique items.” Each store is operated as an independent non-profit, and there are more than 3,000 outlets across the United States.
Methodist Minister Reverend J. Edgar Helms founded Goodwill over 120 years ago and, since that time, it has helped more than two million individuals find work in industries including banking, IT, and healthcare. It describes its mission as enhancing people’s dignity and quality of life by strengthening communities, eliminating barriers to work, and helping people to “reach their full potential.”
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