LI Groups Receive $105K In Recovered Scam Cancer Funds: AG

LONG ISLAND, NY — Three Long Island charities received more than $644,000 in funds recovered from two bogus breast cancer awareness coalitions, the Office of the Attorney General announced Wednesday.

The recipients — Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition, West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition, and Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer, along with Living Beyond Breast Cancer, and the American Cancer Society — met with Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday in a ceremony to receive the donations. The three were among five organizations nationwide that were recipients of recovered funds.

According to James, the funds were obtained from the telemarketing scams of two fraudulent organizations — Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation Inc. (BCSF) and the Coalition Against Breast Cancer — that posed to help breast cancer survivors and spread awareness.

“It is unconscionable that organizations and telemarketers preyed on the public’s generosity and deprived breast cancer patients of vital support during a time of tremendous physical, mental, and emotional distress,” said James.

In 2017, former Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a settlement with Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation, Inc. — a shell charity which claimed to provide medical services to breast cancer patients and those at risk of breast cancer.

BCSF was believed to be created by its president and founder Dr. Yulius Poplyansky. But after an investigation, BCSF was found to be actually created and run by its primary outside fundraiser, Mark Gelvan.

According to Schneiderman, the shell charity was formed to "line the pockets of Gelvan, his companies, and his business associates," who pocketed 92 cents of every dollar donated to BCSF.

BCSF was founded in 2010, officials said, and began soliciting in New York shortly thereafter. By 2014, BCSF was raising on average $3 million a year nationwide from its telemarketing and direct mail campaigns, officials said.

As part of the settlement, BCSF was to shut down its operations nationwide and pay nearly $350,000, to be directed to legitimate breast cancer organizations, officials said. The OAG also obtained $40,000 from BCSF’s auditors, McEnerney, Brady & Company LLC and Edmund Brady.

In 2013, OAG won a judgment against Garrett Morgan for fraud in raising funds for the Coalition Against Breast Cancer, a sham Long Island organization. The organization raised millions of dollars with solicitations that claimed there was a “mammography fund,” when there was none, James said, and that donations would provide free mammograms to uninsured women.

Morgan did not pay the judgment and, acting on a motion by OAG, the court appointed a receiver to collect or sell Morgan’s property to satisfy the judgment. In 2021, the receiver delivered $303,747.86 to OAG, James said.

“Today, I am honored to return these funds to the people and organizations that need them most," James said. "My office is proud to be a partner to these five incredible organizations and help them in supporting breast cancer patients and survivors throughout their journey.”

Nick Radesca, volunteer & vice president of finance, Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition, said that the organization will use its $35,000 donation to provide an array of services to patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer and gynecological cancers.

"“About 1 in 8 U.S. women (13 percent) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of a lifetime," said Radesca. "When that happens a woman’s life, and the lives of those who love her, are thrown into turmoil as she undergoes a horrific treatment ordeal.”

Margaret Campise, president of West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition, said that they will use their $30,000 donation towards the "Lend A Helping Hand" program, which offers free services like house cleaning, transportation to treatments, co-payments, wigs, prosthesis, and post-operative care.

"The West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition for Long Island, Inc. is extremely grateful to the Attorney General’s Office and its commitment to overseeing that funds raised to help women with breast cancer go to legitimate organizations that provide services to the many women on Long Island going through chemotherapy and radiation," Campise said.

Lynn Minutillo, member of board of directors, Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer, said that they will use its $40,000 to also provide services, such as transportation, childcare, house cleaning, and emotional support of other former patients.

The American Cancer Society, which received $314,054.79, and Living Beyond Breast Cancer, which received $225,000, is a national non-profit which will use the funds to help those on limited incomes manage the financial burden of breast cancer.

"The women with breast cancer with whom we engage will be better served financially, emotionally, and educationally," Minutillo said. "Be assured we will strive to be conscientious stewards of the funds entrusted to us.”