COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus police are looking for a West Side man suspected of fraudulently collecting thousands of dollars for a veterans’ charity he did not represent.
Police say a warrant for identity theft has been issued for suspect Joseph Steward, 45, whose last known address was on S. Central Avenue.
Additional felony theft charges are pending, detectives say.
Police say Steward has been soliciting donations for the Wounded Warrior Project in greater Columbus, using the name Charles Steward, though the charity says it has never received any money raised by Steward and that he does not represent the group.
Investigators believe Steward collected thousands of dollars from over 300 victims.
Wounded Warrior does not have any representatives who collect door to door, according to police.