Suspected Navy Vets Con Man Last Seen in ATM Photos

Investigators release images of Bobby Thompson pulling out cash before escape.

ByABC News
November 10, 2010, 3:52 PM

March 23, 2011 — -- Investigators have released the last known images of suspected con man Bobby Thompson, who authorities say conned donors out of more than $100 million for a fake charity for Navy veterans before vanishing.

The mustachioed man, who authorities say operated under Thompson as an alias while he carried out his alleged eight year con, was last spotted by security cameras on June 16, 2010, apparently withdrawing money from an ATM in New York City. Thompson had been fingered three months earlier as the man behind the apparently non-existant Navy Veterans Association in a St. Petersburg Times expose.

CLICK HERE to see the newly released photos of Thompson.

The man known as Thompson faces charges in Ohio for identity theft, corruption and money laundering, but just over a year after the story broke, authorities still do not know his real name or whereabouts. A spokesperson for Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, whose office is leading the investigation, told ABC News Tuesday they haven't given up their chase.

CLICK HERE to read the ABC News report on U.S. Navy Veterans Association.

The ATM images first appeared on "America's Most Wanted" and show Thompson sporting jean shorts and construction boots with a hat and sunglasses covering much of his face.

Thompson raised money for the phony charity mostly through phone solicitations, telling potential donors the money was needed to assist needy veterans, according to investigators.

Federal election records show he invested some of the money -- more than $200,000 -- in campaign contributions to top Republican politicians, including former President George W. Bush, U.S. Sen. John McCain, and the incoming Speaker of the House, John Boehner.

In exchange, he received grip-and-grin snapshots with American political leaders -- the sort of photo that may be commonplace on office walls in Washington, D.C., but looked to outsiders like evidence of an important man with heavy-duty connections.

Federal election records show he invested some of the money -- more than $200,000 -- in campaign contributions to top Republican politicians, including former President George W. Bush, U.S. Sen. John McCain, and the incoming Speaker of the House, John Boehner.

In exchange, he received grip-and-grin snapshots with American political leaders -- the sort of photo that may be commonplace on office walls in Washington, D.C., but looked to outsiders like evidence of an important man with heavy-duty connections.

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