Charity leader accused of falsifying tax records

FORT WAYNE -- A pastor who formed a charity to build group homes for HIV-positive substance abusers raided its accounts for personal expenses, according to a report released Sunday.\nAn investigation by The Journal Gazette found that the governing board of the Archey AIDS Foundation is essentially nonexistent and that the founder, the Rev. Donald Archey, acknowledged forging the signature of its treasurer to open a bank account.\nArchey began holding fundraisers in July 2002 to raise money to build two group homes, one for men and one for women. However, last September Archey notified the Internal Revenue Service that the charity had raised just $43,500 and had less than $2,000 in its bank account. Archey said the charity would direct all its proceeds to a children-oriented program.\nArchey, who is listed as executive director and board president of the foundation, said accusations raised by people involved with the group are not true.\n"Yes, some i's weren't dotted, some t's weren't crossed," Archey said. "But all money has been accounted for. ... There's been nothing misappropriated."\nHe said donors should not worry about the financial questions being raised about the group and that new policies were being put in place to prevent further problems.\nIt is unclear who approved the new policies or how they will be enforced because Archey is one of only two board members.\nIndiana Attorney General Steve Carter said his office was reviewing material related to the foundation.\n"If it's a small board that's essentially controlled by one person, and if the information hasn't been shared with the other board member, that's obviously a concern," Carter said. "When you don't have any outsider that has the ability to see what's going on and address it by virtue of a leadership position, then there isn't any effective oversight"