Man arrested in charity scam

Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000 | 11:16 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas man, believed to have used 20 aliases in the past, has been arrested on charges of stealing about $45,000 from an 82-year-old woman in a charity scam.

And since the arrest of Jovan Ormere, five more victims who have lost about $10,000 have come forward, Deputy Attorney General Brian Kunzi said.

Ormere, who was using the name of Garet Thomas in this incident, has been charged with 11 counts of theft by false pretenses with the maximum penalty for each count 10 years in prison. That sentence can be doubled because the victim was 65 or older.

Kunzi said Tuesday that Ormere, who is still in jail, operated a charity called "C.A.S.H.," or Children Advocates and Society for the Handicapped. Over a period of months he collected about 30 payments from the victim. In return, the woman received such gifts as a VCR and cheap golf clubs.

Kunzi said Ormere "sweet talked" the elderly woman.

The episode leading to the arrest involved tickets to the Super Bowl. Ormere allegedly told the victim she would attend the football game as a guest of the organization because of her past donations. But she would have to pay $1,800 if she wanted a friend to accompany her.

After the payment was made, Kunzi said Ormere was arrested. Since law enforcement authorities are not sure of the suspect's name, he has been booked as a "John Doe." He also used five different dates of birth and Social Security numbers. His age is believed to range from 46 to 52 years old.

"The scam perpetrated on this victim is particularly disturbing because of how long it lasted, and the personal nature of the relationship that was developed between the scammer and the victim," Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said.