An organization raked in $141,000 but “pocketed” nearly all of that amount instead of using it to help East Palestine, Ohio, residents struggling with toxic fumes and contaminated water after a train derailment and fire, the state’s top law official says.
Instead, when money poured in from more than 3,000 donors, Peppel and others kept all but about $10,000, Yost alleges.
“The idea that somebody would so brazenly exploit a disaster situation and the good hearts of people who want to help is unconscionable,” Yost said. “I’m mad as hell about this, and we’re going to make sure this sham charity gets shut down.”
The Epoch Times has asked attorney Kimberly Land, who is listed as the charity’s statutory agent in Columbus, Ohio, for comment. No response was received prior to publication time.
Partnership ‘Non-Existent’
On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern Railway train went off the tracks in East Palestine. The situation turned into one of America’s worst environmental disasters after emergency officials decided to burn the train’s carloads of hazardous materials. State and national agencies have been assisting with air and water testing since then. Yost’s office has sued Norfolk Southern, accusing the company of negligence.The controversy involving Peppel’s fund came to light after representatives of Second Harvest Food Bank complained to Yost’s office that they had not authorized any partnership with Peppel’s organization, as he had claimed in mass emails and text messages, Yost’s release said.
The food bank urged Peppel “to stop advertising the non-existent partnership,” Yost said. Since then, Peppel has paid about $10,000 to the food bank, about 7 percent of the amount raised, Yost said in the release.
“Here’s a message for anybody else who might hope to profit from the situation in East Palestine: Don’t even think about it,” Yost said.
Other smart steps to take include internet searches and asking friends and family if they’ve ever heard of the charity or know anyone the organization has helped.
