(MANSFIELD, Ohio) -- Attorney General Mike DeWine said today that his request for a temporary restraining order against Ministry In Marketing and its founder/president Gary Nicholas Bias, of Richland County, was granted on Tuesday. Additionally, DeWine also filed a 37-count complaint against Ministry In Marketing and Bias for violations of Ohio's Charitable Trust Act and Charitable Organizations Act. The complaint alleges that Bias pocketed thousands of dollars of donations intended for charities and failed to provide to charities the full amount due to them for the sale and distribution of coupon books by Bias and his organization on their behalf.
"Even when charities are vigilant and monitor agreements they have with solicitors in order to ensure they get all of the proceeds their groups deserve, there are too many people willing to cash in on the good name of charities and take advantage of the generosity of Ohioans," DeWine said. "We will go after those who try to benefit by harming charities and their donors."