Attorney General's News Release

July 16, 2004

Fenton woman who operated fake car donation program sentenced to jail

Fenton, Mo. — A Fenton woman found guilty of soliciting vehicle donations for charity then selling the cars for her own profit was sentenced to five one-year terms in the county jail. St. Louis County Circuit Judge Robert Cohen handed down the sentence today against Patricia Gallagher and ordered the sentences to be served concurrently.

Attorney General Jay Nixon, whose office prosecuted the case, said Gallagher took out newspaper advertisements asking people to donate cars. She led donors to believe their cars would be fixed up and given to those in need, including those who needed a car to get to work and cancer patients who needed transportation to the doctor's office. Gallagher told donors she operated a charitable organization and their donations would be tax-deductible.

In May, the court found Gallagher guilty of five felony counts of unlawful practices in connection with the sale or advertisement of merchandise or solicitation of funds for a charitable purpose. Four of the five cars covered by the charges were resold by Gallagher, and she never obtained approval from the Internal Revenue Service to make donations tax-deductible.

Nixon urges consumers who are considering donating a vehicle to charity to first check to see whether the organization is registered as a charity. Consumers also can call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818