CLEVELAND (AP) — A determined fundraiser who rubbedelbows with powerful politicians while
masterminding a $100 million,cross-country Navy veterans charity fraud could face the rest of hislife in
prison.The defendant, who identifies himself as67-year-old Bobby Thompson but who authorities say is
Harvard-trainedattorney John Donald Cody, was scheduled to be sentenced Monday.TheOhio attorney general’s
office, which handled his trial, asked thejudge in a filing last week to sentence him to 41 years in prison.
Inaddition, the prosecution recommended a $6.3 million fine.The defense has asked for a new trial.Thefraud
occurred in 41 states, according to trial testimony, and Ohiotook the lead, indicting Thompson in 2010. He
disappeared for nearly twoyears and was arrested last year in Portland, Ore.He was charged with looting the
United States Navy Veterans Association, a charity he ran in Tampa, Fla.Onlya fraction of the $100 million
was found. When he was arrested,authorities found fake IDs and a suitcase with $980,000 in
cash.Defenseattorney Joseph Patituce said after the verdict that ineffective legalrepresentation issues
stemming from limited preparation time and hisclient’s erratic cooperation might be a basis for an
appeal.Thedefense hinted at a CIA covert operation and showed jurors photos of thedefendant with President
George W. Bush, suggesting Thompson was actingwith government sanction.Thompson was convicted Nov. 14
ofracketeering, theft, money laundering and 12 counts of identity theft.The prosecutor showed jurors
identification cards with the defendant’sphoto but different names and issued by government agencies
andcompanies in numerous states.Thompson sat upright, taking notesduring much of his trial but turned
unpredictable in the final few days,appearing in court with his shirt unbuttoned to his waist and
uncombedhair hanging down his face.The judge, who expressed irritationwith Thompson over his appearance,
issued an order that Thompson be"dressed, groomed and showered" by 8 a.m. on trial days and
directeddeputies to bring him to court "by any means necessary."AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine’s
office plans to ask the judge to assign $330,778of the seized money to cover investigation and trial
costs.Theattorney general’s office also wants $650,871.30 for a default judgmentorder, with the money going
to veterans charities, according to DanTierney, a DeWine spokesman.An additional $101,000 seized from
Thompson has already been distributed by Ohio to veterans charities.The one-time fugitive signaled he would
testify at trial but changed his mind.Records show the defendant had showered politicians, often
Republicans, with political donations.Politicianswho received donations from him, according to campaign
finance filings,include George W. Bush and former presidential contenders Mitt Romney,John McCain and
Rudolph Giuliani.The defendant was identified through military fingerprint records.Copyright 2013 The
Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
orredistributed.