Edward Woods
P.O. Box 54667
Cincinnati, Ohio
45254-0667
March 24, 2013
Director,
E.O. Examinations
Internal
Revenue Service
1100
Commerce St., MC 4910 DAL
Dallas,
Texas 75242-1198
Re:
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee (LPDOC)
PO
Box 7488, Fargo, ND 58106
Illegal charitable donations-activities/money
laundering
Dear
Director:
I
am writing to bring yet another example of the fraudulent practices of the
LPDOC to your attention. Please reference my previous letters and IRS replies,
and the several other times the LPDOC (and formerly the LPDC) have appeared to
violate the law.
To
be clear, Leonard Peltier is serving two consecutive life sentences (plus an
additional seven consecutive years for an armed escape) for the brutal murder
of two wounded FBI agents on June 26, 1975. His case has undergone well-over a
dozen judicial reviews, twice reaching the U.S. Supreme Court. His conviction
and sentencing have never been altered or overturned. Peltier’s lack of remorse
for his crimes is confirmed in a 2/6/10 public statement:
“I never thought my commitment would
mean sacrificing like this, but I was willing to do so nonetheless. And really,
if necessary, I’d do it all over again, because it was the right thing to do.”
Clearly,
Leonard Peltier is not a charity case.
Please find attached a widely distributed email from the LPDOC dated
March 19, 2013 with the notation highlighted “If you are interested in making a
donation that is
tax deductible, please use the
following:”
“Wind
Chases the Sun, Inc., N5679 Skylark Drive, De Pere, WI 54115. This is the
non-profit arm of the LPDOC.”
“The non-profit arm of
the LPDOC” Wind Chases the Sun, Inc., EIN #45-2364127, is a nonprofit corporation
in Wisconsin, however, as previously noted, the LPDOC is NOT a charitable
organization and according to IRS regulations “...must not be organized or
operated for the benefit of private interests, such as the creator’s family…or persons controlled directly
or indirectly by such private interests.”
And that “No part of the net earnings of a section 501(c)3 organization many
inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.”
However,
currently from the LPDOC website, their purpose is unmistakable:
Our staff and volunteers plan and
coordinate an ongoing international freedom campaign to win Leonard’s release.
Our activities include outreach and networking; local, as well as national and
international organizing; public education; media relations; and political
lobbying.
We work closely with Leonard’s attorneys who, with Leonard,
decide on the legal actions to be
taken to win his freedom.
The
former director of the LPDOC, Betty Ann Peltier-Solano, Leonard Peltier’s
sister, stated publicly that: “All
proceeds benefit Leonard’s defense fund.” When in reality all his trial and
appellate attorneys were paid for by the taxpayers. The vast majority of money
raised and spent by Peltier and the LPDOC and LPDC was on anything but defense
costs and attorney’s fees.
In
other words, donations inure to the benefit of one individual, convicted
murderer, Leonard Peltier.
Using
“Wind Chases” in such a manner is akin to money
laundering; they are collecting allegedly “tax-deductible” funds under
a pretense, filtering it through another organization when that money is
clearly for other, possibly illicit, purposes.
Notwithstanding
his incarceration, Peltier and his organization continue to solicit funds for
the benefit of one individual
(Leonard Peltier) and his family. Whether Peltier or the LPDOC has claimed
legitimate income and paid applicable taxes is for the IRS to determine. In
addition, even if the income is lawful, Peltier’s assertion of benevolent and
charitable activities do not withstand scrutiny. For a review of these
activities, please see the online reference at http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#fraud.
Thank
you for your time and attention in this very serious matter.
Sincerely,
Edw.
Woods
Edward
Woods
cc:
1- Barack Obama, President, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.
20500
1- Brown County District Attorney, 300 E Walnut St., Green Bay, WI 54301
1- State’s Attorney, Cass County Courthouse, 211 9th St. S.,
Fargo, ND 58103
1- Warden, USP Coleman, PO Box 1027, Coleman, FL 33521-1027
1- Leonard Peltier, Inmate, USP Coleman 1, PO Box 1033, Coleman, FL
33521
