‘I’m mad as hell;’ Ohio AG Yost sues scam charity that pocketed donations meant for East Palestine residents
“The idea that somebody would so brazenly exploit a disaster situation and the good hearts of people who want to help is unconscionable,” Yost said. “I’m mad as hell about this..
A sham charity pocketed thousands of dollars after claiming to collect donations for East Palestine residents following the catastrophic train derailment, a new lawsuit says.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Tuesday that he's suing Mike Peppel, a Leetonia resident who allegedly operated a fake charity fund advertised to benefit East Palestine. Residents' lives were upended on Feb. 3 when a Norfolk Southern train with an overheated wheel bearing went off the tracks and spilled toxic chemicals into the air, water and soil.
Five of the derailed cars contained vinyl chloride, which the railroad later vented and burned to prevent an explosion.