LIVINGSTON COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – If you’ve seen donation boxes at gas stations and convenience stores asking you to spare some change for veterans, you might want to take a closer look before dropping in a dollar.
According to a public advisory from Livingston County Veteran Services in December 2025, fraudulent groups posing as legitimate 501(c)(3) nonprofits are becoming increasingly common. Some claim to provide housing, food, or financial support to struggling veterans – but when people try to verify them, the contact information often turns out to be fake or non-functional. That means donors may believe they’re helping veterans when the money could actually be going straight into someone else’s pocket.
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“These scams are becoming more sophisticated,” says Ramon Baca, director of Livingston County Veteran Services, urging residents to research organizations before donating.
Missing in action.
One group raising red flags is called “A Place for Veterans.” The organization does not appear to currently exist in any active or verifiable capacity. Its website, phone number and Facebook page reportedly lead nowhere, and the group does not appear in Michigan’s nonprofit registry.
Baca says, “This situation raises serious concerns about accountability and transparency. Veterans and their families deserve reliable, responsive support, not empty promises. We believe this matter warrants further attention to ensure that the public is fully informed and that veterans are not misled or left without the help they were led to expect.”
Investigation links multiple veteran charities to same leadership.
According to a Livingston County Sheriff’s Office investigation summary, several related nonprofit entities are linked to the donation boxes in question, including Veteran Strong America, A Place for Veterans, A Place for Veterans APFV, and Veteran Village USA. All of them are reportedly tied to the same federal nonprofit identification number.
Multiple individuals connected to the organizations were identified by the Sheriff’s office during the investigation, including Daniel Schmier, listed as president and treasurer, and Aharon Morris, who was reportedly seen on surveillance footage collecting donation boxes from businesses.
Financial records also raised eyebrows. IRS filings showed the organization reported more than $201,000 in revenue in 2021, yet a forensic audit allegedly found that only about 11% of funds went to veterans.
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Officials say former officers reportedly accused leadership of fraud and even filed lawsuits to remove themselves from the organization they were involved with, while also reporting concerns to the Michigan Attorney General and the FBI. Investigators also discovered the organization’s listed office was vacant and mail sent to the address was returned as undeliverable.
Veterans raise concerns.
Veterans themselves have been sounding the alarm about these alleged fraudulent charity donation boxes. In an email obtained by Michigan News Source, veteran Thomas Caldwell said the issue recently came up during an American Legion meeting attended by about 25 veterans.
“These pickup boxes are all over gas stations and convenience stores in Michigan,” Caldwell wrote. “Somebody is making a lot of money off of it and not one dime is going to veterans.”
When informed that the organization collecting the donations appears to be conducting a scam, some businesses have removed the boxes from their counters, while others chose not to, according to a third veteran who raised concerns about the situation.
Case closed – but questions remain.
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office opened their investigation after Baca reported suspicious donation jars in November 2024 at locations including Culver’s and Sunoco in Howell.
According to the sheriff’s report, the case was closed on June 25, 2025, after investigators determined the donations were technically being collected by individuals connected to registered nonprofit organizations. However, officials noted that serious concerns remain about where the money ultimately went.
The information gathered during the investigation has been shared with the Michigan Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Section for further review. Michigan News Source contacted the AG’s office to inquire about the status of the investigation but they did not return our request for comment.
Verify before you donate.
Livingston County Veteran Services officials say the safest approach is simple: verify before you donate. Helping veterans is a worthy cause. But accidentally funding someone’s side hustle disguised as a charity? That’s probably not what generous donors in Michigan have in mind.
