MANSFIELD — Joyell Riley, owner of the local Mission Possible charity organization, posted bond today after being booked into the Richland County Jail on Tuesday.
Riley, who was recently indicted in federal court for wire fraud, was arrested for theft, forgery and two tampering with records charges on Tuesday.
She also pleaded not guilty during an arraignment and bond was set at $10,000. Hitchman Bail Bonds posted her bond on Wednesday afternoon.
Assistant Prosecutor Dominic Gentile applied for a restraining order on Friday, July 22. The restraining order would prevent Riley from “encumbering, diminishing the value, and/or transferring the property located at 210 Park Avenue East in Mansfield.”
According to the application from the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office, Riley purchased the property on Sept. 9, 2015.
“On Oct. 22, 2015, Mrs. Barbara Walter approached Miss Riley and asked her some questions about Mission Possible,” the restraining order states.
After learning about Riley’s organization, Mission Possible, Walter made two donations in October and November amounting to $10,400. The checks were deposited to an account belonging to Riley at Directions Credit Union.
In December, Walter still had not received a receipt. She sent four Facebook messages from Dec. 3, 2015 to Feb. 22, 2016.
“The money was supposed to go to her nonprofit organization for a house to shelter veterans. She said that ($10,400) would get the house ready. My husband’s a veteran,” Walter said Wednesday.
Walter received an email on Feb. 24, 2016 with a receipt, indicating an Employer ID Number for Mission Possible and Special Visits Ministry.
Both EINs were searched by the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office on the Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Registration website and GuideStar — both searches did not return favorable results.
“ … the property located at 210 Park Avenue East, Mansfield, Ohio is the fruit of criminal activity … and is subject to forfeiture,” reads the restraining order.
Judge Brent Robinson ordered the restraining order and Lis Pendens on Monday, July 25.
According to court files, Riley’s case is scheduled for a prosecutor pretrial hearing with Judge James DeWeese on Monday, Aug. 8.
Riley was not immediately available for comment regarding this case. Her attorney, Adam Stone, declined comment.
Riley was recently indicted on federal wire fraud charges for collecting money through a GoFundMe page while prosecutors say she falsely claimed to have served in the military and was suffering from breast cancer.
She pleaded not guilty on Friday and a bond was set for $20,000.
A pretrial is set for Thursday, Aug. 18 with Judge James S. Gwin at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. A jury trial is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 29.
