Two Ohio men have been fined nearly $11 million for illegally collecting donations on behalf of firefighters unions in Butler and three other western Pennsylvania cities.
Phillip Howells and Martin Vernello, as well as their corporations, Phil’s Productions, LLC and MVP Productions, LLC, were sued by the state. Both men are barred from soliciting charitable donations in Pennsylvania until the $10.8 million penalty is paid in full.
Officials say the men operated commercial telemarketing firms based in Ohio that sold concert tickets and advertising on behalf of local firefighters unions in Butler, New Castle, Sharon and McKeesport.
Telemarketers would call and sell tickets to the concerts claiming 100 percent of the proceeds would benefit firefighters unions, including Butler City Firefighters Local 114 union. Other false statements were made to consumers including that the money would go towards scholarships for children, food banks, and allow handicapped children to attend concerts for free.
Howard and Vernello received nearly $300,000.
