COLUMBUS, Ohio - A judge in Ohio has cracked down on five people accused of stealing the names of reputable charities to line their own pockets.

According to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the five individuals launched eight charity scams using the names of well-known organizations to swindle good-hearted donors.

A judge in Franklin County, Ohio has ordered the five to pay a combined $190,000 in civil penalties.

In addition, the five are banned from associating with any charitable organization in the future, Attorney General Dave Yost announced.

The court also ordered that the articles of incorporation be canceled for the following groups, none of which was affiliated with the established charities of similar names:

• American Cancer Society of Cincinnati Inc.
• American Cancer Society of Cleveland Inc.
• American Cancer Society of Ohio Inc.
• American Cancer Foundation of Cincinnati Inc.
• American Cancer Foundation of Cleveland Inc.
• American Cancer Foundation of Ohio Inc.
• American Cancer Foundation of Columbus Inc.
• United Way of Ohio Inc.

The five individuals named in the lawsuit are:

• Ian R. Hosang
• Jomar Holmes
• Rhett McIntosh
• Judith A. Culzac
• Claudia Stephen

Legal action has also been taken against Hosang in Michigan, Washington, New York, and other states where he set up dozens of similar fake charities.

Before donating to a charity, Attorney General Dave Yost encourages Ohioans to use the online tools provided by the Charitable Law Section of his office, including:

Checking whether a charity complies with Ohio's registration requirements.

Reviewing a charity's annual reports to see how it spends your donations.

Seeing whether the charity employs professional fundraisers and finding out what percentage of donations goes to charity.