Stamford Advocate- One day after a Bridgeport man was arrested and charged in a scheme to coerce troubled teens into a life of crime through a questionable foundation, the state attorney general has launched a probe into his organization.
"We are investigating because this supposed charity is not registered with my office or currently with the Internal Revenue Service," said Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
By law, all charitable organizations must register with both agencies to solicit donations.
"We will take action to return money to contributors who may have been victims of deceptive or misleading claims when they donated money," added Blumenthal.
Blumenthal's comments came the same day that Gregory Jetter, 48, of 182 Wheeler Ave., Bridgeport, was arraigned in state Superior Court on robbery, larceny and conspiracy to commit robbery charges.
Jetter was arrested by Greenwich police Monday and held overnight at police headquarters on a $250,000 bond. The bond remained set at $250,000 during the proceeding.
Greenwich police said Jetter labeled himself as the director and inspirational speaker for the Bridgeport-based McCree Foundation Inc., a registered business with the state. Although the foundation's mission statement said its goal "focused on the improvement of the inner-city minority areas," police said they soon learned Jetter was using it to recruit youths to help him with robberies throughout the area.
Detectives discovered the situation after investigating a July 2009 robbery of Estate Treasures consignment shop in Riverside. During the incident, Lakeem Jetter, 19, and Moses McCree, 20, were charged with stealing more than $250,000 worth of jewelry at gunpoint.
However, police said cell phone records indicated Gregory Jetter was also in the vicinity and, they later determined he acted as the getaway driver and disposed of the jewelry after the robbery. Gregory Jetter is related to Lakeem Jetter and has ties to McCree as well. Moses McCree is listed as the president of the McCree Foundation and Lakeem Jetter as another director.
Jetter and family registered the foundation on April 27, 2009, with the state's commercial recording division. The business was listed as active as of Tuesday, and the foundation's Web site, which solicits charitable donations, remained up and running.
Senior Assistant State's Attorney Paul Ferencek told the court that Gregory Jetter had an "extensive criminal record dating back to 1980," which included larceny and armed bank-robbery convictions.
Jetter was released from federal prison in 2007 after serving a 16-year sentence, according to records. Jetter was in federal custody for a violation of probation stemming from a 1994 bank robbery when he was arrested by Greenwich police Monday afternoon.
Court records show Jetter has one child and worked as a salesman. The bail commissioner said he had no history of mental health or medical issues.
According to Lakeem Jetter's arrest warrant, the Estate Treasures robbery was the second in a string of five similar incidents believed to have been planned by Gregory Jetter and others in Greenwich, Fairfield, Orange, Stratford and Monroe.
Police believe Gregory Jetter may face additional charges in the coming weeks. Prosecutors said he was being detained by federal authorities in Rhode Island, but they were making arrangements to have him transferred to Connecticut permanently. Gregory Jetter's arrest warrant was sealed Tuesday.
Jetter is due back in court on March 23. Lakeem Jetter and Moses McCree are due back in court March 8.
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