By Journal Staff

LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel along with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Director Orlene Hawks successfully obtained an order dissolving 10 fraudulent entities for failing to comply with state nonprofit and charity laws, the attorney general’s office announced.

The entities have names similar to those of legitimate nonprofits, like the American Cancer Society, American Cancer Foundation, United Way and the American Red Cross, but appear to serve no charitable or commercial purpose.

In 2020, the Department of Attorney General identified Ian Richard Hosang, Claudia Stephen and Lincoln Palsey as involved with the fraudulent entities American Cancer Foundation of Detroit ACF of Grand Rapids, ACF of Lansing and ACF of Michigan; American Cancer Society of Detroit and ACS of Michigan; American Red Cross of Detroit and ARC of Michigan; and United Way of Detroit and United Way of Michigan.

In January 2020, LARA’s Corporations Division referred the ACS of Michigan and ACS of Detroit to the attorney general’s office for potential dissolution proceedings after discovering the organizations were not part of the national entity. During that review, the Department of Attorney General discovered the other involved fraudulent entities.

The Department of Attorney General found no evidence that any donations were made to these organizations.