Secretary of State Handel Files Suit in Charities Fraud Case

Atlanta – Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel today announced that she has filed a complaint in Fulton County Superior Court against Atlanta City Council member H. Lamar Willis.

The complaint alleges that Willis is in violation of Georgia’s Charitable Solicitations Act for establishing an unregistered charitable foundation; accepting charitable contributions to the foundation; and comingling funds donated to the foundation for charitable purposes into both personal and election campaign accounts.

“When Georgians donate their resources to charities, they trust that their contributions will be used as promised. When one charity breaks this bond, especially one led by an elected official, it can harm the ability of legitimate organizations to raise resources and fulfill their missions,” said Handel. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and pursue charities fraud cases to protect both legitimate charities and their donors.” 

Georgia’s Secretary of State is statutorily designated to register and regulate certain charitable organizations, solicitations and solicitors.

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our citizens and our business community. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.