Fake WA veteran's charity fined nearly $1 million

TACOMA – A Pierce County Superior Court judge ordered a charity that deceptively claimed to help veterans to pay a total of nearly $1 million in restitution and financial penalties. The sham charity’s sole officer, Michael Friedmann, told consumers and donors their donations would benefit veterans and their families when none of the money raised did.

In November 2018, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued Spanaway-based Fallen Hero Bracelets asserting that they misled customers into believing their purchases were benefiting veterans’ charities like ones for separated families, service...