Seekonk Man Arrested for Role in Breast Cancer Fundraiser Scam

The day after Alan Ponte was arrested by Cranston, Rhode Island police for his role in setting up a phony collection table for breast cancer research at the annual St. Mary’s Feast in Cranston, Sheldon Luther, of Seekonk, called the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation and left a message.

In it, he made reference that his brother was arrested and he was very upset because he had approval to collect donations from the Foundation. He said he himself had collected $186 and would turn the money over the next day.

The money never turned up, but an arrest warrant for Luther did and he now is in custody for obtaining money under false pretenses and conspiracy.

Cranston Police Chief Col. Michael J. Winquist said in a release that Luther, 28, of 442 Taunton Ave., Seekonk, was involved in the brazen scam that unraveled after a breast cancer survivor attending the busy feast and celebration of Italian food and culture thought the men wearing pink shirts and giving out bad information about cancer were suspicious.

That woman took photos with her phone, which helped police track down and arrest Ponte, and later Matthew Murphy, who appeared in photos distributed by police shortly after the crime.

Luther’s arrest comes after continued and thorough investigation by Cranston police to track down everyone involved in the scam, which shocked many for its boldness as well as how Ponte, Murphy and Luther preyed on the good intentions of strangers at the feast.

Capt. Sean Carmody said that police had continued to receive information that there was a third suspect involved in the scam after Ponte and Murphy were identified.

A worker for the foundation confirmed that two men walked into the foundation on July 17 and asked about fundraising.

The worker explained the protocol and “made it clear to both individuals that they would need prior approval to use the name and logo of the Gemma Foundation,” Carmody said.

It turns out that Luther was one of those two men and the worker was able to positively identify him.

Enter the July 25 phone call. Luter left the message woeful about Ponte’s arrest, which gave police the means to trace him through phone records.

Luter was taken into custody by members of the Portsmouth Police Department on Monday morning and is being held as a bail violator.

He is due to return to court on Aug. 17.