CELEBRITY FUNDRAISER CHARGED WITH MAIL FRAUD

A former promoter of celebrity charitable fundraising events has been charged with mail fraud, United States Attorney Debra W. Yang announced today.

Aaron Tonken, 37, was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of mail fraud in connection with his promotion of charitable events from 1999 to 2001. According to the affidavit in support of the complaint, during that time, Tonken helped produce several charitable fundraisers which included the casts of the television shows "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal." Tonken also collected hundreds of thousands of dollars to put on a charitable fundraiser in honor of the singer Diana Ross which never took place.

According to the affidavit, Tonken routinely made misrepresentations which defrauded the underwriters and donors for these events. To cause donors to contribute to the events, Tonken regularly overstated the amount of underwriting funds that had been raised, understated the cost of producing the event, and promised that celebrities had agreed to appear at the events when they had not. Tonken further agreed to pay some celebrities to appear at events, while assuring the underwriters that the celebrities had agreed to appear for free. Tonken also regularly committed to the multiple underwriters and celebrities involved that their charities would receive more than one hundred percent of the proceeds of the event to various charities, in order to induce their participation in the events.

Tonken is further alleged to have taken funds raised to benefit charities for his personal use, including the purchase of luxury items and to repay personal loans.

Tonken is due in court on June 10, 2003 to be arraigned on the complaint. If convicted of the charge set forth in the complaint, he faces a maximum of 5 years imprisonment.

This case is part of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which acknowledges the assistance of the California Attorney General's Office.