A Fort Collins couple is suspected of operating a charity fundraising scam that victimized people in northern Colorado and Wyoming, police said.
Acting on a tip from a 94-year-old woman who was suspicious of a telephone solicitation for “The Loveland Children’s Show,” authorities arrested Larry Edward Magnus, 42, and Debra Sue Magnus, 46, earlier this month, Loveland police said.
They were charged with multiple felony counts, including theft over $1,000, crimes against at-risk adults (those 60 years and older) and charitable fraud, police said. Additional charges are pending as more victims are identified and further evidence is recovered.
Police began investigating the case last month. The couple is suspected of fraudulently raising funds from people and businesses in Loveland, Berthoud, Fort Collins, Longmont, Greeley and other northern Colorado cities, as well as Casper and Cheyenne, Wyo.
The couple solicited donations and operated as “The Children’s Show,” “The Loveland Children’s Show,” and “Triumph Management,” police said.
Police said the way the couple solicited and what was delivered caused concern among dozens of contributors.
Individual contributions ran as high as $100, police said.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Officer Rob Pride at 970-962-2052, ext. 1096.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
