CREW: Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Regarding Complaints against AVRF, COPS, and DFF. Complaints Against David Scott Marleau

On April 16, 2010, CREW sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as a follow-up to the FTC’s refusal to initiate an investigation into the practices of the Freedom Alliance, Freedom Concerts, Premier Marketing, Sean Hannity, Lt. Col. Oliver North, and Duane Ward and that appear to violate the law by falsely suggesting the proceeds of all ticket sales for the Freedom Concerts go to college scholarships for the children of deceased and wounded military service members. Despite the fact that CREW’s complaint to the FTC outlined a pattern of repeated conduct by numerous individuals and entities over a period of time, the FTC responded it does not resolve “individual complaints,” but instead acts only when it receives “numerous complaints.” CREW’s FOIA request seeks information relating to the number of complaints the FTC received before it investigated and acted on similar claims related to other charities in May 2009 as part of its Operation False Charity.