Ohio attorney General Seeks to Dissolve Nonprofit accused of Misuse of Funds
Table of Contents
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is pursuing legal action to dissolve a Columbiana County nonprofit, Lamb’s House, alleging the organization was exploited for personal gain and failed to fulfill its charitable mission. The lawsuit, filed October 23, paints a picture of financial mismanagement and raises serious questions about oversight within the nonprofit sector.
Allegations of Personal Enrichment
According to the legal filing in Columbiana County Common pleas Court, Lamb’s House, established in 2002 to provide addiction prevention and treatment, has not operated for a charitable purpose since at least 2017. Instead, authorities claim the organization functioned as a “personal ATM” for its president, Mark Altomare, and provided him with rent-free housing on the group’s expansive 43-acre property.
“This nonprofit has served no charitable purpose for years, operating only as a personal ATM and a source of free housing for its president,” a statement from the Ohio Attorney General, dave yost, read. “The jig is up.”
The lawsuit details how Altomare allegedly used charitable funds to cover personal expenses, including groceries, gasoline, utility bills, and even streaming service subscriptions like Hulu. Moreover, the complaint asserts that board members effectively authorized this behavior, allowing Altomare to report personal expenditures as legitimate charitable programming costs without providing any supporting documentation.
Details of the Lawsuit and Defendants
The Attorney General’s Office is seeking a multi-faceted resolution through the lawsuit. This includes the complete dissolution of Lamb’s House, the appointment of a receiver to manage and distribute the nonprofit’s remaining assets, and the imposition of civil penalties against Altomare, and also two board members: Jo Propri and Randy clark.
Lamb’s House’s property includes a nine-bedroom house, a 13,000-square-foot commercial building, and two barns. The lawsuit alleges that these assets have been improperly utilized for personal benefit rather than serving the intended charitable purpose.
financial Contributions and lack of Response
Between 2017 and 2023, Lamb’s House reported receiving annual contributions ranging from $27,000 to $110,550. The Attorney General’s Office contends that these funds were not used to support the organization’s stated mission.
Attempts to obtain comment from Lamb’s House and its representatives have been made. A message was left at a listed phone number for the organization, and another was directed to Fluent & Ricciardi, the firm in Poland, Ohio, responsible for preparing the nonprofit’s 990 tax form.
Why: The Ohio Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against Lamb’s House, a Columbiana County nonprofit, alleging misuse of funds and failure to fulfill its charitable mission.
Who: The key players are the Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Lamb’s House, its president Mark Altomare, and board members Jo Propri and Randy Clark.
What: The lawsuit alleges that Lamb’s House operated as a “personal ATM” for Altomare, who used charitable funds for personal expenses and received rent-free housing. Board members allegedly authorized these actions.
**How did it
Keep reading
