Las Vegas man pleads guilty in telemarketing scam scheme

Richard Zeitlin, a 54-year-old man from Las Vegas, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a Manhattan federal court. His fraudulent activities spanned from 2017 to 2020, during which he misled donors into believing they were contributing to charitable causes. Instead, the funds were funneled into political action committees or his own businesses, with up to 90% of the donations not reaching the intended beneficiaries. Zeitlin operated call centers since 1994, using them to raise hundreds of millions of dollars under false pretenses. He instructed his staff to alter solicitation scripts to present their fundraising efforts as charitable, thereby attracting more donations. The indictment revealed that donors were often told their contributions would support veterans, law enforcement, and cancer patients, while the reality was that the majority of the funds were diverted for personal gain. In addition to misleading donors, Zeitlin also exploited political action committees by siphoning off funds intended for various causes. His actions not only eroded the trust of donors but also took advantage of their goodwill for his financial benefit. Sentencing is scheduled for December 10, where Zeitlin faces a recommended prison term of 10 to 13 years and has agreed to forfeit $8.9 million linked to his fraudulent activities. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the detrimental impact of Zeitlin's actions on donor trust and the exploitation of charitable intentions.