Charity exec to be sentenced

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 12 at 9 a.m. in Wood County Common Pleas Court for a former chief executive officer of a charity who has been convicted of aggravated theft, tampering with evidence, solicitation fraud, and prohibited acts involving charities.
Linda Greene founded Impact with Hope, formerly ISOH/Impact, which raised money for international relief projects as well as the hosting of foreign children needing medical attention unavailable to them in their home countries.
The charity also maintained “The Lighthouse,” a property in Perrysburg where Greene lived.
According to the Wood County prosecutor’s office, Greene would host children at her home and use charity funds for much of her living expenses, including clothing, food, manicures, and hair styling.
In all, more than $400,000 had been misappropriated, according to the prosecutor.
Investigators testified during her trial that Greene paid her personal credit card bills with charity funds, and reimbursed herself for purchases made with the charity’s credit card – in effect causing the charity to pay for the items twice.
While the court case was pending, Greene was ordered by the court to disassociate herself from the charity but she was repeatedly brought back before the court for violating the order.
She was jailed on a cash bond for violating the court orders and ultimately ordered to vacate The Lighthouse.
Prosecuting attorney Paul Dobson praised members of his office and the staff of the Ohio Attorney General for preparing the case.
“To use the money of hard-working people to live in the lap of luxury for free and to take even more is indefensible,” he said.
The tampering and theft charges are third degree felonies with each carrying potential penalties of three years in prison. The solicitation fraud charge is a second degree felony with a possible eight-year prison term and the prohibited acts charge is a first degree misdemeanor with a six-month sentence.
Greene remains free on bond and is still under the order to have no contact with the charity.
Judge Joel Kuhlman will issue the sentence.