Monday, March 25, 2013

PELTIER: MONEY LAUNDERING; 101


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